New Cell Phone Numbers

So we all got new cell phone numbers, because we’re moving.  I don’t know how it was for you (if you’ve ever had to change), and I can only speak for AT&T Mobility – but, “What a pain.”  They couldn’t just switch my numbers – they had to create a whole new account.  They couldn’t just copy my old account information over – they had to hand-enter all of my information into the system again.  They couldn’t transfer over the services I had from my old account – they had to sign me up for all new services.  They couldn’t get any information about my devices over the network – I had to give them things like IMEI numbers, etc.  All of this over the phone (had to be between 7am and 7pm CT on a weekday) – I was on for two hours.

But I got them changed.  It’s a little cathartic – feels like starting over, in a way.  I get to choose who gets the new number to my personal cell (everyone else gets the work number) – so now I know that when the personal cell phone rings, it’s someone I want to talk to – at least for a little bit…

The new iPhone releases in a week – guess I’ll get another chance to interact with the customer care team, very soon…

Kids and Cell Phones

Now both kids have a cell phone.  Kendall has had one for about a year, and I have to say it’s come in quite handy.  He’s done a great job of managing the use of his phone, and controlling the urge to use the phone inappropriately (whether time of day or types of downloads).  We got Kiana a cell phone this week, and we gave it to her last night, as a part of the end-of-school-year celebration. 

We got her a cell phone for a couple of reasons.  Primarily, when we move to Wimberley at the end of the month, we’re going to cut the cord – we’re not getting a land line.  So – we’re reasoning (rationalizing?) that all four of us need a cell phone, to remain accessible.   Secondarily, we want her to feel like part of this digital family.  We noticed that spend a lot of time engaged in digital pursuits, and although Kiana has an iPod for communication, and a Nintendo DS for gaming, she isn’t able to take part in the messaging and phoning that we all do amongst each other.

We “solved” that with a new Blackberry Pearl.  It’ just like Mom’s phone, it has a keyboard for all of the texting she’ll do, it’s small enough for a little purse or pocket, it’s a candybar so there are no hinges or sliders to break, and we’ve found the Blackberry to be a little workhorse and not prone to easy breakage if dropped.  Kiana absolutely loves it.  She’s still figuring out the functionality, and because both Mom and Dad are BB users, she’s got lots of questions and is intent on getting the right answers.  

We know this isn’t something we would have done this summer, had we not been moving.  We’re a little early on the whole kids and cell phones thing, with our 11 year-old.  That said – we think we’ve covered all of the appropriate parenting bases – but I’m sure there are some yet uncovered.  We had the conversation about appropriate usage, we subscribe to the unlimited family plan with texting, we’ve put on the parental controls feature, and we’re monitoring the usage.  I’ll be watching closely – hope this goes well… 

Our kids didn’t get them *this* early…