Well what a debate it has been over the last week about Kids and Mobiles. I have really enjoyed all the comments on the BLOG and also all the emails I have received from people who don’t like making their comments on the site.

Firstly it is great to see how passionate people are about how our pre-teens in Australia are using their time and being parented. Secondly I have definitely picked up some tips about bringing up 10 year olds from people that have older kids. Finally Savannah and I and the whole family have had some really funny nights reading the comments together.

Some points that were not made online that I thought I would share with everyone on the positive side for Savannah:

1. One person I know made this point – “I started using the home phone at 5 years old calling my school friends – what is the difference with a mobile? Kids start using computers at about 4 at pre-school and then in primary school. Kids start using ipods, PSP, Nintendo DS players and watch TV younger than 10 so what is the worry about watching it on a mobile?
2. Then I heard from friends and colleagues who are divorced or separated couples who swear the mobile has taken away all the angst about keeping in touch with young kids that live in another state or home.
3. There are ways to manage costs and usage of all types of items with kids and the mobile is just another thing to manage.
4. No kids are allowed to take phones to school as they are leading to problems with bullying and jealousy – One person reminded me that we were not allowed to take walkmans and calculators to school at one stage back in the day so there is always a new item that causes schools to get “tough”.

So – what is the verdict??

After all the points made online and offline I have decided that there is some merit in Savannah having some sort of mobile – as I stated up front it is more about Savannah wanting the latest and greatest mobile for games and music more than wanting to make phone calls. (Considering only about 3 people she hangs out with at school or at dance club have a mobile).

So I have conferred with my colleagues in the Family Friendly Marketing team at Telstra and we have an agreement that Savannah will trial some different phones for a month. My marketing colleagues tell me the Tic Talk has been designed with mums and dads in mind by giving parents the power to choose which calls (and text messages) their child makes and receives, what time of the day the phone can be used and even incentives for completing the weekly spelling list.

The first of these phones was mentioned by Rim and Chelsea below in the comments – it is the Tic Talk.

Savannah after all did point out the “safety” and “being in contact” aspects of why a mobile is needed – this phone does cover it.

This should be fun! I will keep you all posted on the ongoing trials and tribulations of Savannahs mobile life.

Now what is not fun is CHICKEN POX – while I was not paying attention half of Sydney’s kids have contracted Chicken Pox and now it is our family’s turn.

This has made me think this week about how Child Illnesses can affect your Work Life Balance.

So far only one of my 3 kids has got Chicken Pox but the others will be there soon.

How did I get the news about the chicken Pox?  My husband calls at 8:30am just as a I arrive at the office in Melbourne for meetings last week. This was our quick discussion – mainly questions from me really? 

1. Should we take her to the doctor? Who will take her to the doctor? How sick will she get? Will there be scars?
2. What are the remedies? Old fashioned and new ones?
3. Have my husband and I had chicken pox?
4. Who else have we been with over the last 24 hours that we should inform so they can tell others – as it happened we had been visiting friends in the Blue Mountains over that weekend and there must have been about 20 kids coming in and out of their house all weekend – so there is one phone call I had to make as soon as possible.
5. How long will it be until the other 2 kids get it?
6. I remember the Kindy teacher mentioning something about a vaccination – when was I supposed to get to that?
7. Who will look after the 3 kids when the Kindy and School tell us that they can not come to school until all the skin is cleared up?
8. Juggle Juggle Juggle!!!!!
9. Husband – cool as a cucumber says “I will wait until you get home tonight from Melbourne and we can talk about it all then!!!”

Luckily in our household we can juggle for now while there is one sick but there will be days this week when I will have to work from home, or my mum will have to pitch in or my sister will take on some of the care.

But what about single parents, unfriendly work places, kids that take longer to get well, and people who do not have parents close by ??– how do these people manage when kids come down with something other than a one day illness.??

It is hard to leave a sick kid at home or in care – one day is ok but for 2 weeks is hard.

So...
I would love to hear from you on your “war stories” about – the juggle you have faced through illnesses either with kids , elder parents, relatives or friends.