With responsibility comes freedom. We all want and desire freedom. As children grow, mature, and become young adults, parents must do some hard thinking and make some tough decisions. Children often want the freedom that comes with something before they are able to handle the responsibility. Parents must discern when their children are ready to take on new responsibilities.
It seems like every teen has a cell phone. We live a few blocks down the street and around the corner from our town’s high school and often drive by the main entrance while going out and about. A few days ago, I was nearly t-boned by a teenager talking on his cell phone while pulling out of the high school entrance. A few weeks ago we drove past the high school not long after school had let out. We were surrounded by teenagers, and it seemed like every one of them was talking on their cell phone. I told the kids, “Quick, put something up to your ear so it looks like you’re talking on the phone.” They laughed.
Times certainly have changed. When I was in high school, no one (not even adults) had cell phones. Having more than one phone in the house was really “cool.” In my high school, there was a pay phone close to the main entrance. I used it probably a handful of times the four years I was in high school. I never had to wait in line. The few times my mother needed to get a message to me before school was out, she called the office and left a message.
More and more people are dropping their land lines and going totally cellular. For those people, a cell phone is a necessity. However, most adults use a cell phone as a luxury item, even though we don’t think of them that way. They’re often used for convenience or for some, a safety tool.
Owning and using a cell phone also comes with responsibilities such as:
- knowing when and where to use the phone. Talking or texting while driving can be dangerous. Talking during classes is rude and disruptive, and I doubt that employers are going to put up with a teenager that is always busy talking on their phone. I have even heard of instances of teenagers texting their friends during church services. How many teenagers stay up all hours of the night talking on the phone? How many have the maturity not to answer the phone after 9:00 pm or whatever your house rule might be? Most teenagers are just learning to manage their time, and a cell phone could set them up for failure in this department.
- paying the bill. I suspect that most parents are paying the bill for their teen’s phone. One could argue that if a teen doesn’t have the funds to finance something (especially a luxury item) then they should go without.
- not giving in to temptation. Today’s phones have all kinds of bells and whistles. You can take pictures or even record videos with some phones. Many phones have access to the Internet, and we all know that there are plenty of time wasters and immoral things on the Internet. Does your teen have the maturity and self-control to stay away from these things? These teens didn’t, and they may all be facing felony charges. Their few moments of stupidity, immorality, and irresponsibility will effect them for the rest of their lives.
We are living in a world that tries to arouse our desires and then promises to satisfy them with “stuff.” We have to learn that all of this “stuff” isn’t going to make us happy. In fact, we’re often very disappointed in it once we have it. This is a tough lesson for teens to learn. Most teens would be much better off learning self-control and curbing their desires. If a teen is upset that Mom and Dad won’t buy them a phone, so be it. At least Mom and Dad won’t have the guilt of giving them something that could result in immorality, sin, or even felony charges.
