Mommy! I'm The Only One In Class Without A Mobile Phone!

"Mommy! I'm now the only one in class without a mobile phone! I checked with everyone! I Am The Only One!" complained my ever energetic 12-year-old.

I know! The classmates who hadn't received a mobile phone from their parents the whole of their Primary School years were getting them a week or two earlier than him. I had planned to present him with his "new" hand-me-down-iPhone-with-a-long-crack-across-the-screen on the eve of his Graduation Celebration because the kids were allowed to bring their phone to school to take photos. It was meant to be a surprise and this complaint came without him knowing our plan. 

Just to keep the surprise under wraps, I told him I'll consider if he should get it in November or December or January *haha*

Ewan hadn't been one who bugged us for a mobile phone through his Primary School life even though majority of his classmates owned one. They obviously set up a class group chat as well which I did not know of because he never asked to join in. I think it's probably because badminton had been his priority and primary focus. Sports people can't be bothered to engage in endless gossips? I don't know but hey! I like it like that.

I was so excited to put this parcel together, I spent the night before inserting contacts for him inclusive of profile pictures of his friends, downloading apps and choosing a wallpaper he might like.

There was a t-shirt he wanted badly for months. It costs only $9 [so cheap!] but I told him to wait till 11.11 Shopee sale just so he understands the value of money. I bought it before 11.11 any ways and included it into his Graduation Gift parcel, hiding his controlled freedom aka mobile phone under the bed of green shredded paper filler with a "Look Under" tag. 

He would obviously see the One Piece t-shirt first before the phone. I couldn't wait to see his reaction because as we all know it, Ewan's gift-opening reactions are GOLD!

Does it seem miserly that he did not receive a brand new phone but one that has a cracked screen? Well, we have three working mobile phones at home [mine as I progressed through the iPhones] and I did not want the children to think that money can be spent this freely. This is not a reward for the grade he would bag home. It just felt like it's about time to transition him into Secondary School life. 

He did not complain at all even though he saw it! Nothing a screen protector can't do to protect his fingers from getting scratched by the crack.

What apps are on the phone?

What restrictions will there be?

As for now [to be tweaked according to situations]:

[ ] No Lock for Message, Call, Music 

[ ] Lock 8pm to 8am (including WhatsApp) 

[ ] Brawl Stars 1hr Limit 

[ ] Safari 30 min Limit

[ ] YouTube 30 min Limit

[ ] WhatsApp 40 min Limit

[ ] Must pick up our calls for safety purposes 

[ ] Must reply messages (basic ettiquette)

[ ] Request for permission when downloading new apps

[ ] Phone in glove compartment in car together with mom's to refrain from picking up the phone all the time

[ ] Phone in parents’ room after 8pm

[ ] Mom goes through messages

[ ] No social media (this is his suggestion)

Let us see how this pans out! The last thing any parent would want is to confiscate the phone and downgrade privileges. So kids, work with us!

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