Big Brother: Lojacking the Kids?

I was out at garage sales this weekend and over heard the oddest conversation.  I did not chime in at the time because it was not my conversation but as I walked away I was appalled!  There were two women at this garage sale who were discussing lo-jacking their kids in case anyone took them.  I could not believe what I was hearing.  Were they kidding me?  Since when do we keep our children “safe” by taking their rights away?  Since when do we treat our kids the same way we treat criminals.  I just could not believe it.

The first thing that came to my mind is that most of the time kids are taken by people they know.  It is not as common that a person drives by and offers them candy.  Most of the time it is a neighbor, a friend or a parent whom you are acquainted.

Another thing that popped in my mind was that cell phones, which a lot of kids have, contain GPS.  This means that as long as they are out and about with their phone they would be findable.

I just think that we have all become far too paranoid.  Why is it that we as Americans have let fear take over.  Why is it that we no longer think that anything is safe?  I just think that kids should be kids.  How would you have reacted if your mother and father sat you down and lo-jacked you?  I am not sure that any of us would be happy.  Perhaps they should have a leash.  Perhaps we should microchip them like we do our pets.  Perhaps they should have a bar code installed at birth. When is it too much?  When will we as Americans stop giving up our freedoms in order to feel safer?

I do not know about you but I ould never lo-jack my kids.  I will let my kids play outside because as I said in “outside will get you” kids are better off playing without me breathing down their necks.  I will never have my kids be able to be tracked that easy.  I want you all to take a few moments to look back at how you grew up.  Now look at what we as a generation have let the fear driven country do to the quality of our children’s lives.  I think that we have to loose the fear and live a little.  Most of all I think that we have to stop letting fear take the place of our rights as Americans.  Over the past 10 years we have lost a lot of our freedom in the name of terrorism.  Not for nothing but I am pretty sure that the terrorists are not going to come and take my kids.  I am pretty sure that they will not bomb my house and I am pretty sure that if they did they would bring Abigail back right away!  She would fight them and be too much of a problem.  At what point is enough enough?

Becca

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Kids and Cellphones

I am completely annoyed that so many eight year old’s have cell phones.  I have run into this so many times with my eight year old that I want to scream!  Since when do kids need phones?

While my eight year old, Abigail, tries to get me to say yes she can have a cellphone I sit and wonder why we are even having this conversation!  AT the age of eight what could you possibly need to  a cell phone for?  Here is what she things she needs it for:

1.  In case I need to call you mom.  Ok this would be a valid argument if it were not for the fact that I go everywhere she does.  She is not 16 with a drivers license.  She is 8.  It is not like all of her friend parents do not have phones in their homes and cell phones!  DENIED!
2.  To talk to my friends.  I am a big believer that kids do not need privacy.  There is no need for it.  She is again 8 years old and I think that it is important that she not be lurking in corner talking to people without being in ear shot of me.  In our home you have to ask to use the phone.  It is after all my phone.  DENIED!
3.  I want to text my friends.  Well unless you have a job I am not paying for my eight year old to text.  She cannot even spell word correctly!  DENIED!
4.  They are rude.  I have run into this problem in Girl Scouts more then once.  Girls texting while we are in the middle of a meeting.  Kids do not think of them as means of communication they are looking at it as a toy.  Parents who are buying these 8 years old girls phones are not even taking the time out to teach them good manners with them.  I think that it is crazy!  DENIED!

At this point Abigail gives up and tells me that I am the worst mom ever and that she hates me.  The thing is that I am ok with all of that.  I just will not buy my eight year old a phone even if she is the only kid in the world without one!

Becca

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