How did single parents survive before cell phones? My mother was a single parent for several years when I was a teenager, she had four kids at the time and we were always going in different directions. How did she maintain her sanity?
Within two years of getting divorced I got my daughter a cell phone. I saw it as a way to prevent arguments and keep my heart from exploding.
The first summer that she was home alone just about did me in. My child is impulsive, a friend comes to the door, they play at our house for a minute then run to the friends house, or even out in the courtyard to play with the other kids. Of course she doesn’t remember to call me and tell me where she is going to do but somehow my Mom radar knows that she has left the house, so 30 seconds after she walks out the door, I call.
No answer, wait ten minutes, call again, still no answer. Ten more minutes, no answer. After two hours I’m frantic. Every horrible news story I’ve ever seen or heard is dancing through my head, taunting me. Bad things happen all the time, why should I be lucky enough to remain untouched.
I grab my purse and call one more time before I leave work to go find her. This time she answers, her cheerful little voice on the other end of the phone lets me know she has no idea I’ve been frantic.
A cell phone, whether I wanted it or not, was needed to keep my calm at work. Now that she is older the cell phone is still important. She’s driving, hanging out with friends, I need to be able to touch base, and it allows her a little more freedom.
It’s a small price to pay for sanity and, I believe, it has helped our relationship. When she is going to be late, she can call so I don’t get upset and read her the riot act before hugging her and telling her how glad I am she’s safe.
Also, cell phones allow me piece of mind when I leave the house. I know if she needs me I’m only a phone call away. I can enjoy my time away from her without worrying if everything is okay.
I don’t know how I could survive being a single parent without this one little piece of technology.