Guess what I got for my son’s twelfth birthday?

December 13, 2007 | By valmg |

I got a “tween” (his term, not mine) with a telephone growing out of his ear. I’d heard of this phenomenon but didn’t think I’d encounter it in my home. My son turned twelve at the end of November. Prior to his birthday he’d ask to borrow the phone, make his call and be done, all within a minute or two. Since the day after his birthday he’s been on the phone non-stop, for anywhere from 5-30 minutes at a time. Last night he asked me at 9pm if his friend called to please let him know. That was when he got the crash course in phone etiquette, Mom style. The phone does not ring in our house after 9pm unless it is an emergency. He didn’t get it. This afternoon he was on a call with his friend when his friend’s girlfriend called so they continued talking on a three way call. It’s like someone flipped a switch on my son. If I could find it I’d probably consider putting it on a timer.