The Parent and the iPhone

Today's blog came from some web surfing by yours truly. I came upon what you will read below regarding a parent (Janelle) who had "given" her 13 yr. old son (Greg, you'll understand the quotations marks shortly) an iPhone for Christmas. But, there were strings attached and in my mind, good parenting skills demonstrated.  Her 18 rules and regulations are the essence of this post. If you're a parent of teenagers out there, this is for you! Enjoy and I wish for you all that's best for 2013!

Her rules are as follows (lightly edited from Janelle Hofmann's blog):

1. It is Mom's phone, she's just loaning it to Son.
2. Mom always gets to know the password.
3. Son must always use manners when picking up the phone -- and ALWAYS pick up the phone when it rings, especially when Mom or Dad are on the other line.
4. Son must hand phone to Mom or Dad at 7:30 PM on weekdays and 9 PM on weekends.
5. No iPhone during school hours. Son must have physical conversations, not just text message chains.
6. Son, not Mom, is responsible for any iPhone repairs or replacements.
7. Technology can not be used by son to "lie, fool or deceive another human being."
8. Son may not write or say anything on the phone he wouldn't say in person.
9. Son may not say something on the phone he wouldn't say in front of the other person's parents (censorship).
10. Son may not look at porn.
11. iPhone must not make Son rude. Phone must be stored during movies, dinners, etc.
12. Son may not send or receive sexts (pictures of body parts).
13. Son may not take too many photos or videos (bad news, Instagram)
14. Son must be able to leave the house without the phone without feeling paranoid. i.e. Son must not become addicted to his iPhone.
15. Son must download new songs that his friends haven't discovered yet. "Expand your horizons," says Mom.
16. Son must play games "every now and then" on iPhone.
17. Son must still experience the world and look up from the iPhone from time to time. "Wonder without googling."
18. If Son messes up (mom expects him to), his phone will get taken away. He'll be talked to and given the phone back. "I am on your team," Mom concludes. "We are always learning."

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-iphone-etiquette-is-in-a-moms-letter-to-her-13-year-old-son-2012-12#ixzz2GkT301r5