I also find it convenient for her to have the phone in many minor circumstances: when she's at a friend's or relative's house, or if the baby is sleeping in the car and I want to run in somewhere without schlepping everyone. Or if I want to wait in the car, lol, while *she* runs in somewhere like the library or the store. She's 12. She stays home while we do some errands, or does some small errands herself (how else will she ever learn to handle things alone?). Or rides her bike around the neighborhood. Of course I am still vigilant, but it is a really useful thing to have. Not least so I can contact her and tell her if I'm going to be a few minutes late picking her up. Her phone also has my friend's cell phone numbers in case for some reason she can't get through to me and needs help with a minor emergency.
Once their friends are driving it's a *great* thing to have- my friend's daughter calls her or text messages her that she doesn't want to ride with so-and-so. Not that teen embarrassment is so important, but frankly some teens would get in with an unsafe driver rather than be embarrassed or get into an uncomfortable social situation.
Once their friends are driving it's a *great* thing to have- my friend's daughter calls her or text messages her that she doesn't want to ride with so-and-so. Not that teen embarrassment is so important, but frankly some teens would get in with an unsafe driver rather than be embarrassed or get into an uncomfortable social situation.
