Supernanny Rules

68 opinions for More Drama Than Daytime Television

• Kadi
  May 13, 2008 at 1:45 pm

  None. Mine are not old enough. HOWEVER…the television has gotten way too much use as of late. We need to cut back, especially with summer break arriving in 11 more days!
  Way to go with the math equations! You’re a smart cookie and a good mama!

• Thrifty Karen
  May 13, 2008 at 2:07 pm

  Oh my goodness! That is insane!!!! I don’t doubt it though. You should see the youth at church. They can’t even stop texting during church. They are addicted. It is such a shame. I told them they should have their cell phone surgically implanted into their body.

• Barbara Ling
  May 13, 2008 at 2:11 pm

  My gosh, that is astounding! Kudos to you for limiting them for the future.

• Beth Dargis
  May 13, 2008 at 2:25 pm

  My 15 year old son is trying to talk me into one. But, with the amount of time that boy spends on the phone (unlimited Vongage) and IMing I can’t imagine what happens if he starts texting too. We have MySpace blocked, but that doesn’t prevent girl drama in real life here.

• Jennifer
  May 13, 2008 at 2:45 pm

  WOW. That’s amazing how you figured that all out, and totally insane. 11 days! Glad Cedar isn’t ready for a phone yet. Geez. I had no idea kids were that into texting. I thought all the over text message jokes, were, well, jokes. I think I’ve sent three text messages in my whole life.

• Gayla McCord
  May 13, 2008 at 2:58 pm

  It is insane! I always try to get the kids to work out story problems to figure this stuff out to see if it’s truly justifiable.

  Amazingly enough he’s not been very pressuring to regain more time on his phone.

  In a way, I’m kinda proud of him

• Fashion Paramedic
  May 13, 2008 at 3:30 pm

  Help me out here–was that number (4,279) the actual number of text messages SENT? (I’m with Verizon, so my bill states how many texts are allowed in my plan for the month, then how many texts were used. It doesn’t state whether or not they are coming in or going out.)

  Not that there’s anything right about having a COMMA in the number (total messages sent and received) to begin with. Good for you for setting limits and boundaries. My oldest is only 5, so this problem is a long way away for me!!

• marye
  May 13, 2008 at 3:34 pm

  none. no cell phones.
  15 year old felt that his myspace was a source of tempatin for him and cancelled it on his own and limited his own computer time. 14 year old has had his myspace removed. 12 year old recently discovered the church library.
  My kids don’t know enough people to text that much.

• Thrifty Karen
  May 13, 2008 at 3:36 pm

  Those cell phones that are preprogrammed to call mom and dad, emergency numbers, etc, are looking more and more appealing.

• Thrifty Karen
  May 13, 2008 at 3:37 pm

  stumbled ;)

• Gayla McCord
  May 13, 2008 at 3:39 pm

  We have unlimited texting and I’ve paid for detailed billing.

  Yes, when there is a Comma used in the number of text messages - there’s a problem.

  I’m keeping track of all this stuff so one day when God blesses each of them with those triplets I’m praying for, I can throw this ALL up at them when they start complaining :D

• Gayla McCord
  May 13, 2008 at 3:44 pm

  Marye, those were all sent to TWO people! Even if kids know only ONE person with text messaging, they can get the numbers cranked up in no time.

  Can you imagine what he would do with a cell phone with full keyboard? LOL

  Thanks Karen - I’m thinking those phones are sounding pretty good now too :)

• BMS
  May 13, 2008 at 4:23 pm

  My kids are, thankfully, too young yet for cell phones. When they want one, they will have to pay for it. I don’t even own one myself, so I’ll be damned if I am shelling out for them to spend all their days playing with them. And I just don’t see the need for MySpace. Go out and find some friends you can see and talk to them. I guess I’m behind the times, but so be it.

  Good for you for dropping the hammer on them.

• DeAnna Prescott
  May 13, 2008 at 5:54 pm

  I have a 14 year old son and a 12 year old son that both have cell phones-not because they need “to keep up with the Jones’ (kids)” but because of necessity. We live quite a distance from my older son’s school and the rest of my boys take the bus home while I am picking up my older son across town. Anyways, to avoid any unnecessary calls they have the freebie phones-you know the ones that don’t have texting available. Actually my oldest is so embarrassed by how non cool this phone is, he never uses it unless he is stuck at school wondering where I’m at…it’s wonderful! They did purchase a ring tone once, however I made them pay me out of their own money and they haven’t done that since. Try getting a generic “no frills” phone and see what happens.

• marye
  May 13, 2008 at 6:15 pm

  Two people? Dear Lord! Gayla..He nay have a future in blogging!

• marye
  May 13, 2008 at 6:16 pm

  MAY have a future in blogging. not NAY.

  hands don’t work today.

• anonymous
  May 13, 2008 at 6:28 pm

  2 minutes per text message is an extremely high estimate. Most kids can type a solid text message in less then 30 seconds. Test your kids. see how fast they can type “hey whats up how are you doing” on their phone. And you also did not mention that this is the generation of multitasking, so it is not texting while doing nothing. If someone were to make an article like this critical of everything a child would do In a waking day, it would probably add up to well over 24 hours.

  This -electronic communication- is probably the most significant generation gap since Rock N Roll

• pickel
  May 13, 2008 at 8:14 pm

  Anon-totally agree. 30 seconds while washing dishes and playing Wii.

• Thrifty Karen
  May 13, 2008 at 8:40 pm

  Regardless of how long it takes for them to text, I think the real issue here is that 4200+ text messages is way too much. They are probably spending at least 1 1/2 days a month texting. That doesn’t include their myspace time. We finally had to put a password on our computer because we had youth coming over, spending hours and hours on our computer. If you can’t even sit through a class period or a church service without texting, then you’ve got problems.

• Jay
  May 13, 2008 at 9:12 pm

  I am part of the “cell phone generation”, being 30. My father had a phone pretty much from the moment they were commercially available. It weighed as much as a car battery and was twice as big.

  So… I’ve grown up with cellphones. I also work in a tech industry where cellphones are a big deal. However, this is my stance:

  Kids don’t deserve cellphones. Period. *If* they need to be in communication like that, they can get one of the child phones that allows them to call a small set of pre-specified numbers and nothing else.

  They can have a phone when they can purchase and pay for it themselves, and are subject to all of the contract pains if they can’t keep up payments. Not before.

• Bill
  May 13, 2008 at 9:18 pm

  Wow..my daughter racked up 800 texts and I hit the roof…amounted to an extra 100 dollars on the bill…which was 400 dollars higher than usual due to the hours of overages talking to a boy who lives 6 blocks away…….

• Shane
  May 13, 2008 at 9:25 pm

  Oh my gosh! My sons are only 11 and 7 so I haven’t had to face this yet. I’m going to remember your little dinner time activity though for future reference.

• Ryan
  May 14, 2008 at 1:52 am

  This is a bit absurd. I know that I have made txt bills that high in a month and yes, it’s a bit excessive but I wouldn’t say that text messages replace real life interaction. They supplement. Teach your kid the right way to used the technology. Technology has so many goods but can be exploited. I’m not sure that pure negative teaching is the best idea. Instead of taking things away, why don’t you add something? Does your kid play sports? an instrument? do his homework? If your child is too busy, they won’t text, or won’t have time to send 4,000 a month.

• Javi
  May 14, 2008 at 2:24 am

  oh my god.. you people are pathetic.
  the fact that u all mention church is a clue into how backwards you are.. i feel really sorry for all your children.

• Gayla McCord
  May 14, 2008 at 4:31 am

  I chose the “2 minute” timeframe as an average. With kids, it’s not just about composing the message - it’s about composing JUST the RIGHT message, sending and waiting on a response. Watching the phone in case it doesn’t record the incoming message with a sound. Some messages longer, some take 30 seconds - but the average is 2 minutes.

  Next, I think the use of “church” is showing just how rude and out of touch children in this generation are. This whole “entitled” generation is BS. Kids are NOT entitled to anything. I truly don’t want my kids becoming long term liabilities that live in my basement for the rest of their lives and texting in Church is a clear sign of how rude and out of touch they are.

  They need to know there are some places where it’s NOT acceptable to text. Church, school, funerals, weddings, MOVIE Theaters and ummm WORK - just to name a few.

  Someone saying the use of the word “church” is backwards is obviously coming from someone who is knee deep in entitlement.

• BMS
  May 14, 2008 at 6:38 am

  I get pretty irritated by the copout that “This is the electronic generation and it’s their culture and you old fogies just don’t understand..”

  Anyone remember the book “Less Than Zero”? Fiction, to be sure, but all about rich kids in the ’80s in California. Their culture was one of snorting cocaine, casual sex, total disregard for others. Did that make it a culture to encourage? Should not the adults connected with these rich kids have made more of an effort to change it?

  I’m not saying texting is akin to drug use (although it has its addictive properties). But I am saying that just because “everyone” does it does not mean that it is a good thing. Maybe I will be fighting a losing battle when my kids get to be teenagers. But I will fight the battle, regardless.

• Kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 10:09 am

  Ha! Who is this Javi person? I can’t figure out if he’s a religious zealot or what. Why is it wrong to mention church?

• Kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 10:11 am

  The fact that he types God without a capital G, or uses His name in vain while chatising others is simply priceless!

• anonymous
  May 14, 2008 at 11:01 am

  texting is always a secondary operation. Never will a person solely text and wait for a response. never.

• Thrifty Karen
  May 14, 2008 at 11:34 am

  Anonymous: Have you ever worked with teenagers? I’ve seen them sit around texting the people that are in the SAME room with them! But once again, I think the point to remember here is that 4200+ text messages is WAY too many!

• Kelsey
  May 14, 2008 at 12:14 pm

  Wow, I hope I never have to deal with this, I think that my husband would probably agree with Kadi’s husband’s methods, but as for javi, the only thing backwards here is you, learn to respect other’s beliefs not ridicule them, all people are saying is that it’s an inappropriate place, kinda like texting during a nice diner at a resturant. The scasy thing is that most teens wouldn’t see an issue with this. As for the idea that people who text this much aren’t keeping an eye on their phone is ridiculous. Texting this much is not a “hey this is the resturant and here’s the address” these are more of a conversational texting (probably because they know their mom would freak at them being on the phone this long) and it wouldn’t really work if the person who was texting didn’t get a reply for a few hours. And saying that you can multi-task is well and good, but it’s a bit like trying to write a paper while IM-ing, you tend to focus on the fun activity rather then the important one. So, in other words, Way to go Gayle!

• Pumpkin
  May 14, 2008 at 5:13 pm

  i would just like to say, everyone who is saying texting in church is rude…why do you even drag your kids to church? you’re going to force them to attend something they obviously don’t want to and complain about how they behave. of course, you may say, we all have to do things in life we don’t want to do, but forcing a religion upon anyone, even your own child, is much more rude than texting in church, i think.
  second, while i agree 4200+ texts is very high, i don’t believe kids aren’t “entitled” to anything. it’s your duty to support your kids. i’m not saying that you have to give them every thing their little hearts desire, or that a cell phone is a basic need of life, but if you have a cell phone yourself, don’t you think it’s a bit harsh to refuse to get your child one? if you chose to make your kid’s life miserable, then don’t complain when they run away or start cutting. :)

• kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 5:22 pm

  Ummm…just out of curiosity, how old are you pumpkin and do you have kids?

• Pumpkin
  May 14, 2008 at 5:24 pm

  I am 68 and have 1 child who is 12

• Gayla McCord
  May 14, 2008 at 5:27 pm

  There are LOTS of things I “have” in life that I will NOT buy for my kids. To say just because I have one that I shouldn’t refuse my kids one is obviously coming from someone who either doesn’t have kids or doesn’t have kids old enough to want the expensive shit yet.

  I have a car - won’t buy my kids one - they will work and earn it themselves.

  I have nice computers - printers, video camera, digital camera - won’t buy them one. They earn those things on their own. Two of the three have computers - they earned them.

  Dragging my kids to church when I go is not rude - it’s placing them in situations where manners and respect are a must. If nothing else, it places them in a “different kind of situation” where they can learn to behave and become more versatile. I don’t force my kids to go all the time - I don’t go all the time. But they do enjoy the youth group and in order to enjoy the fun that comes with the group - they have to attend church.

  Kind of like going to work. Want to enjoy the benefits of a paycheck - gotta go to work.

  I think it’s perfectly fine to refuse my kids things that typically are reserved as a reward for good bahavior.

• kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 5:36 pm

  Wow. You had him pretty late in life. How was the pregnancy? Having a child at 56 is pretty rare these days. In fact, I’ve only known of two women who accomplished that feat, using in vitro and other fertility treatments.
  How did you come to conceive at that age?

• kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 5:37 pm

  P.S. what is cutting?

• anonymous
  May 14, 2008 at 5:41 pm

  http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q100/gggraham/529778578_l.jpg

• kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 5:45 pm

  okay. thank you for that disturbing visual. that looks like a blog post in itself, Gayla!
  So I’m sorry to draw this conclusion, but I’m thinking that pumpkin is not who they say they are.

• Gayla McCord
  May 14, 2008 at 5:52 pm

  It is disturbing Kadi. My husband and I dealt with his daughter going through a cutting stage. I just don’t get kids these days. I personally think they lack attention - because both parents are having to work all the time to support the family.

  I’m pretty sure pumpkin isn’t exactly honest either.

• kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 5:55 pm

  Oh Mylanta. Apparently, I need to do some reading before starting the new blog. I need to know this stuff so that when I do a post on it, I’m not asking the readers to expalin shit.

• kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 5:56 pm

  And I’ve just decided to wrap my kids in bubble wrap and join an Amish community. There is too much scary shit out there.

• Gayla McCord
  May 14, 2008 at 6:02 pm

  There is a lot more scariness then when we were kids! And it’s only getting worse.

• Pumpkin
  May 14, 2008 at 6:05 pm

  pardon, the original pumpkin here.
  my age is of no concern. i will say, i am much younger than you may think. or may not. i can’t read your minds, so i haven’t the tizziest how old you think i am.
  yes, i do have a child.
  i didn’t mean to offend, and i suppose i didn’t word my response as thoroughly as i should have. i try to be as open-minded as possible. i would never force my child to go to church, or any religious gathering for that matter. i have absolutely no problems with any following, however, i don’t think it’s fair to force my child to partake in a religion she may not even want to follow. if your child is claiming that they worship God and are texting in church, that is a problem. also, i did not mean to imply that texting in church isn’t rude. secondly, regarding the issue of kids needing to earn special things- i agree, they shouldn’t be just handed what they want. however, i do think doing chores should be rewarded with something. some may say being provided food, clothing, and shelter is their reward for chores. i don’t agree. that is your responsibility as a parent to provide those things. i’m not saying your kid does dishes, you go buy him a cell phone. say your child starts doing extra chores and does good in school, then you could reward them with a cell phone. i don’t believe it’s right to deny them extras they have worked for.
  i hope i’ve made myself clear. before i end this comment, i would like to add that i in no way meant for this, or my previous statements, to imply that i know better than anyone else, or that i was trying to tell anyone how to raise their children. everyone should do what they feel is right. i have rather strong opinions, and tend to let myself get carried away.

• kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 6:06 pm

  If pumpkin does not respond any more, I think we will know why.
  Anyway…
  I have 36 neices and nephews. NONE of them have ever gone through a cutting phase and ALL of them have attended church all their lives, sometimes against their will. Dragging your kids to church will not induce cutting or running away, as pumpkin suggests…it may save them from getting involved in that sort of stuff. Life is a lot easier to swallow when you know that there is a God above who loves us and forgives us. (even if we do try to text in church!)

• kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 6:08 pm

  oh dear. I’m confused. there are 2 Pumpkins here? okay, then disregard my previous first sentence.

• Pumpkin
  May 14, 2008 at 6:11 pm

  i would like to add a few notes on the cutting and running away dilemma. again, i realize too late i may have went a little overboard with that statement. of course, kids probably aren’t going to do those things because you drag them church or don’t get them that fancy new whatever cell phone is popular these days. however, i would advise that every parent should keep a good eye on their child, attempt to get to know their children as best as possible (not as easy as it sounds, especially with teens), and be very attentive to their behavior. youths, teenagers especially, are more clever than they let on and can be quite sneaky when it comes to hiding things from their parents. all i’m trying to say is, you may not think these things bother them, but it wouldn’t hurt to take a closer look.

• kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 6:11 pm

  However…
  I think that a teen trying to text in church, even though it shows a lack of respect, is normal. Don’t you remember your teen years? My parents would have taken away such devices before we enetered church, if we had them back then. Regardless, it does not mean that the teen is turning his back on God, just because he is pushing the envelope. That is what teens do.
  Your opinions are always welcomed here Original Pumpkin. Even if they do not fall in line with what Gayla or I believe.

• Pumpkin
  May 14, 2008 at 6:12 pm

  kadi- i am the first pumpkin who posted. you will notice i rarely use capital letters.

• kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 6:12 pm

  Good point, Original Pumpkin (I have to call you that now)! I will probably be the nosiest parent on the block, when it comes to my teenagers. I’m so afraid of these things happening and being oblivious to it.

• kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 6:13 pm

  got it! :)

• Gayla McCord
  May 14, 2008 at 6:18 pm

  I actually think Original Pumpkin (OP from now on for me) thinks a lot like some of the regulars here.

  As far as getting carried away — have at it OP - we all do that sometimes.

  Sometimes you just have to go a little insane to remain sane :) I hope that comes across the way I do intend it :)

  Now can we get back to Kadi and her frivolous purchase of fake boobs? :P

• kadi
  May 14, 2008 at 6:21 pm

  Hey! I take my fake boobs to church almost every weekend and I do not let them text while we are there!

• Gayla McCord
  May 14, 2008 at 6:23 pm

  Ya know, if I had a pair, I wouldn’t let mine text either :P

• Kskott
  May 15, 2008 at 3:03 am

  As a college student with my teenage years recent enough for many to consider myself a child still, I feel my perspective might be from a new angle.

  First, as has been stated before, a two-minute average is far too high for even the slowest (or eagerly-waiting) of teens. T9 functions allow for rapid typing with minor spelling errors, as similar words share certain button patterns. Secondly, from my own experiences, texting has served most often as a secondary form of communication in situations where verbal communication is impeded in some way, such as at church, in class, at a library, or watching a movie. These environments may seem controversial for texting in general, but I have found that certain circumstances warrant this means to spread information. Though normally I turn my phone off in church (it is my choice to attend, not my mother’s), there have been times where I have needed to contact someone regarding important matters, such as informing my mother as to when service has ended. Other times, people have texted me and I have responded (without taking the phone out of my pocket thanks to pattern recognition and muscle memory) with simple phrases like “at church.” The same goes for when in a movie theater. As this was a rare occurrence for me in high school, I usually kept my phone on silent and responded to texts (in my pocket again) with no more than a few words. Even in school have I found texting to be not only quick and simple, but important. My household did not have internet access when I was in high school, and thus the process of applying for college (which was entirely online) was done while I was at school. When problems arose with housing or financial aid, I was in need of a fast and easy way to contact my mother without disturbing her at work, and conversely to receive her replies without disrupting my classes. This was done through texting. More recently, as my sleep schedule has become more erratic and classes being later in the day, my mother has used texting to contact me without knowing whether or not I was able to answer the phone. Simple phrases like “I love you” might not seem as sincere on a screen than when heard, but when away from home for extended periods the difference is minute.

  Nonetheless, four thousand texts is extreme. Yet I believe a more effective alternative to confiscating the phones would be to purchase prepaid ones. My mother did this for me when I was in high school, and it worked wonders with budgeting both time and money. Though she paid for phone cards on a regular basis, it was only enough to be used as a necessity, with the occasional recreational conversation. Any other use would have required me to purchase my own card, which I did when I could afford to. This process probably saved my mother quite a bit in overage fees, while teaching me how to handle scarce resources. It impacted me so much that when I decided to get a “regular” cell phone plan I was able to effectively purchase one with the least amount of minutes and no add-ons, except for texting, of course:)

• Gayla McCord
  May 15, 2008 at 4:50 am

  @ Scott - Thanks for your perspective from a person recently in the texting scene.

  I understand that the 2 minute mark is a little high - but this is a kid who has only been texting for a few months. This is a kid that takes 10 minutes to decide on what value meal he wants off the McD’s menu.

  I’ve never rushed him through much because I like the fact he’s not “quick” to make decisions. He genuinely puts thought and effort into everything he does. This includes longer thoughts to do his messages.

  I completely agree there are times when texting is wonderful and needed. That was the premise for the boys getting this feature to begin with. It just happens that something called a girlfriend altered that to extreme.

  This child is SO emotionally attached to the girl sending messages that he does wait on the response - he does put a great deal of time and effort into each and every response.

• Ashley
  May 15, 2008 at 7:20 am

  Pumpkin,
  I was brought up in church and it was far from miserable. It always felt good to have my family together for a common purpose and even as a small child I could sense a goodness about the place. Although there were certainly times that I would have rather been at home watching tv or something, I still wouldn’t call that miserable. We “force” our children to participate in many, many things that they object to from time to time and I believe it’s called parenting. Also, most sects of Christianity believe strongly in something called free will.. so while we may “force” our children to sit in the building with us for an hour once a week, most of us believe the decision to (Gasp, cover your eyes athiests; I’m going to say the word!, last warning, here it comes!) accept Christ or to accept the message in their hearts is absolutely their own. I would never want my child pretending to have a religious experience to please me - that defeats the whole purpose.

  About the topic, Gayla - love the thing you did at the kitchen table. WAY too many text messages. I’m with the pizza commercial - “Sit down and actually talk to friends! Give your thumbs a rest!” And anonymous - you’re absolutely right. This is a huge generation gap issue. I’m only 27 and I DO NOT GET all the texting.. I don’t think texting is bad - I just don’t get it..

• BMS
  May 15, 2008 at 8:29 am

  If it is ‘rude’ to expose them to religion, then I guess it is equally rude to teach them to say please, wear a bike helmet, not give their brother a bloody nose daily, and pick up after themselves. Imposing my values is what I am supposed to do as a parent. Now, if they get to be 25 and convert to a garden slug worshipping cult, well, I’ll be disappointed. But it will be their choice. However, they will have a solid religious education to compare that choice to.

  And seriously, one hour in church? They spend more time than that watching a Star Wars DVD, and they can go that whole time without talking, fidgeting, or whining. They can sit still for an hour and not die.

• Thrifty Karen
  May 15, 2008 at 8:37 am

  Amen to that!

• kelly
  May 15, 2008 at 9:00 pm

  Thats how many sent and recieved
  it takes less than 30 seconds to send a message and less than 10 to read
  do the math better.

• kelly
  May 15, 2008 at 9:02 pm

  also- not to mention- sometimes if the text is over a certain number of characters (like 150) it is divided into 2 or more texts.
  I often send texts that are actually counted as 2-3 messages, and when i get longer text messages, i am charged for 2-3 messages.
  you are clueless

• Thrifty Karen
  May 15, 2008 at 9:04 pm

  Kelly: If you would read the comments you would see that Gayla’s child hasn’t had a cell phone for very long. It takes him a while to send a message and he also thinks upon what he’s going to say. I think she knows her children and she has certainly observed how long it takes for her child to send a text. Some kids can text in 30 seconds and some can’t. 4200 text messages is an unbelievable amount and she did something about it.

• anonymous
  May 16, 2008 at 5:30 am

  Bad parent is bad

• Thrifty Karen
  May 16, 2008 at 5:33 am

  Bad parent is bad? What in the world is that supposed to mean?

  Don’t you just love how the people that usually have nasty things to say do it anonymously.

• anonymous
  May 16, 2008 at 5:35 am

  yes

• Ashley
  May 16, 2008 at 7:22 am

  I love how ya’ll are arguing the math. LOL. It’s too dang much at 1,100 or 5,000! I think most parents are clueless and could care less about how much time and effort their teens are spending on the cell.. Good for you Gayla.

• Becky
  May 16, 2008 at 8:07 am

  http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8333453

• Kskott
  May 16, 2008 at 4:28 pm

  @ Becky. I wonder how much the monthly fee is when checking through 10,000 text messges

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