Cell Phone in the Dryer
My son’s cell phone went through the laundry.
There, I said it. And no, it’s not easier to say simply because it happened at his mom’s house. What happened could have happened at my place or anywhere.
You see, his sister did the laundry, and she doesn’t normally do that chore. She dumped things in the washer one pile at a time. So she didn’t exactly check every pocket for rocks or gum or money.
Or cell phones.
At least I know he won’t be sending any dirty text messages. (Haha. Get it?)
Lesson learned, by both kids.
My son should have emptied his cell phone out of his pocket before he chucked his jeans in the dirty clothes basket.
You’d think he would have noticed when his phone wasn’t near him! He’s a texting maven. His phone chimes, rings, and buzzes off the hook, even when it’s not exactly on the hook.
To help him learn a lesson, we waited a month (!!!) before replacing the dang thing. And we charged him a pretty penny for his share of it. But replace it we did. He’s back texting again.
“Hey Dad,” he said this morning. “I’m popular!”
“Why do you say that?” I asked.
“I’ve gotten 200 texts in the last 2 days!”
I don’t equate popularity with number of texts, or self esteem with texting. But he’s only thirteen. Let him have his fun, eh?
“Do you have unlimited texting?” I asked.
“Yes!” he said.
“Are you sure? Because if you don’t, you’re paying the over-run charges.”
He went silent. After paying his share of the replacement phone, I can’t blame him.
“Mom says it’s unlimited,” he said.
Huh? “Are you positive?” I asked.
“I just texted her!”
That’s my boy!
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Comment by Just Me...
| November 12th, 2009
I’m still amazed that, at 13, he let it get far enough away from him and for long enough to actually make it through a laundry cycle!! :)
Just Me…´s last blog ..Lost..
Comment by Andrea
| November 12th, 2009
Nothing like texting to check!:) See I don’t want my kids to get older. I have no intentions (currently) of letting them have cell phones at such a young age.
Yes I am destined to be that ‘mean’ mom.
Andrea´s last blog ..The Naked Truth : Leave Out All The Rest
Comment by Nicki
| November 12th, 2009
I love it! There’s only one thing that could have kept a 13 yr old boy distracted enough to not miss his cell phone. I was talking about video games.
Kudos on the month wait before replacing the phone. I’m sure it seemed A LOT longer given the complaining and whining that must have ensued.
Nicki´s last blog ..Somehow…it all comes together…
Comment by Kat Wilder
| November 12th, 2009
Yay for holding your son accountable; so many parents don’t, and then the kids walk through life expecting that the world (or their boss, girlfriend, parents, friends, etc.) owes them something.
Now, have you taught him your dirty sex texting messaging secrets? ;-)
Comment by Mindy/Single Mom Says...
| November 12th, 2009
Amazing what can happen to cell phones sometimes. My friend has thrown his in the washer – twice. I’ve dropped mine in the toilet (while potty training my then 3 y/o), my kids have left them just about everywhere you can think of and I swear they do not make them indestructable enough!
Good for you for making him wait a month and help pay for the replacement.
Comment by Danielle
| November 12th, 2009
I applaud you on your lesson teaching.
Comment by BigLittleWolf
| November 12th, 2009
Great story! I’m amazed at all the junk that goes through the laundry, when the kids do it, that is. And good for you in making him pony up to the consequences, financially. Those are the lessons they don’t forget.
BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..Are you happy?
Comment by Heather
| November 12th, 2009
LOL costly lesson! how did he ever survive without his phone for a whole month?!?!
Heather´s last blog ..Veteran’s Day
Comment by Florinda
| November 12th, 2009
My 15-year-old stepdaughter has lost at least 3 cell phones to the laundry over the last few years. All happened at her mom’s house, while on her mom’s plan, and she did have to pay for the replacements (although she usually got the cheapest model available). Her dad and I just put her on our plan, and bought her newest phone. If she loses/breaks that one, she’ll have to pay for the next one.
She does her own laundry. Her dad made a sign for the washing machine to remind her to check it: “Is there a cell phone or an iPod in here?” (Yes, she lost an iPod to the laundry as well – and had to replace that herself too.)
Florinda´s last blog ..Yo ho, yo ho, the online life for me!
Comment by staciesmadness
| November 12th, 2009
hahah. I love this…
staciesmadness´s last blog ..Are you smarter than a 3rd grader?
Comment by T
| November 12th, 2009
Love the lesson!
I’m not sure if my girls will have a cell phone at age 13. Ask me again in 5 years. :)
T´s last blog ..When’s the wedding?
Comment by TentCamper
| November 12th, 2009
Gotta love it. Our daughter (although a few years older than your son) would snicker at 200 texts in 2 days. We are in the habit of seeing more that 5,000 texts on her line every month. I can’t even figure out how that is possible.
TentCamper´s last blog ..Hot Mama Manic Mariah – Schoolin the Hot Dads
Comment by Sandra
| November 12th, 2009
I didn’t get my first cell until I was 18 years old, in 1999. That was when cellphones were starting to get real popular. That thing was way too large to get mixed up in the wash.
I was charged rent after I turned 16. I consider your phone lesson to your son to be nice and fuzzy.
Sandra´s last blog ..Just Babble
Comment by Travis
| November 12th, 2009
Each one of my kids have a cellphone. One’s lost it, the other threw it her sister and they’ve both thrown it at each , the oldest won’t let it out of his site (That worries me) and he can definatly put away the messages at a whopping 7500 one month. That’s 250 a day. He has gotten to the point where he hates it as he can’t use his phone very much.
Travis´s last blog ..Insomniacs Parental Guide to a Bob Dylan Christmas
Comment by bingo lover
| November 13th, 2009
200 messages is a lot for just 1 day! i wonder if he reads every message he gets. Technology evolves every now and then and people are just keeping up. Way back then I never thought I would have a cellphone. It certainly has now become a necessity. At 13 with 200 messages, wow! children today are becoming resourceful? I hope they are using them the right way –for communication purposes and expanding their learning.
bingo lover´s last blog ..Online Bingo Bonuses
Comment by Keith Wilcox
| November 13th, 2009
This is like people who have 5 thousand facebook “friends” and claim popularity. Not trying to equate your boy to some fake person or anything; I just like that he made that leap :-) By the way, this article bring up all sorts of good questions about what to do when your kids break a toy or product or something. Do you replace it for them? Do you let them learn the lesson and do nothing? I like your take. The boy has got to have a phone and he probably can’t get one my himself. You still managed to teach him a pretty relevant lesson without going all strict on him. I think I’m going to write about this — I’ll credit you for the insight.
Keith Wilcox´s last blog ..Cranberry Sauce Part Deux
Comment by Mark
| November 15th, 2009
These things happen. Costly lesson for everyone.
Mark´s last blog ..“It Is Just My Luck …”
Comment by Zach
| November 15th, 2009
I have had this happen to me as well, the joy of raising kids :)
Zach´s last blog ..Yes, Dad can sew
Comment by Rob
| November 16th, 2009
LOL. That is funny because I do the laundry and I NEVER check pockets for anything. I love how he text his mother to see if the text plan was unlimited. LOL.
Rob´s last blog ..Monday Mingle November 16th