Friday, September 14, 2007

Kajeet!!

You know how when a kid is old enough to form a sentence, the first thing they ask for is a puppy?

Well, the second thing kids ask for is a cell phone.

I’m never getting my kids a puppy.

The cell phone, however, kind of just landed into my lap. I had the opportunity to try out a cell phone for the kids, and of course, I jumped on it.

KAJEET!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~



This is a new cell phone geared toward kids; it’s got fun gadgets, and a camera, and you can download games on it, and… and…it’s just way cool.

Let me first just say I truly love this phone. Love it! It works with a pay-as-you-go plan, so there are no monthly charges; you put some money into your account, like say, twenty bucks, and then the kids use the phone as necessary. Ten cents a minute is all, no matter where they’re dialing.

So, I love this phone.

But, I do have to say, my kids having a phone is like that old commercial with the frying pan and the egg. “This is your brain, this is your brain on drugs.”

This is your phone, this is your phone and all three of you are going to kill each other over it.

They don’t really need a cell phone, because I am a cruel mother and never let them out of my sight. They don’t venture too far from me yet, but I know someday, they’re gonna fly this coop, so I need to be prepared. I need to know they’re at the movies, or with a pal, not hanging out in some alley sharing needles or huffing some old paint. So, this is why they will need a cell phone eventually.

I let them try it out. I let Diva take it with her to the next street over which is a cul-de-sac.

“Don’t call me. I’ll call YOU when it’s time to come home,” I instructed her.

“OK! Thanks Mom! Bye Mom! I love you Mom!” (Yeah, she loves me cuz she’s got a cell phone in her pocket!)

“Love you too! Don’t call me!”

Two minutes later…

Briiiiinnnnnng Briiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnngggg!

“Hello?”

“Hi Mom, I’m here.”

“Yes, I know Diva. I can see you from the kitchen window.”

“OK! Bye!”

“Bye honey. Don’t call again.”

“Love you!”

“Love you too, do not call me again!”

Thirty seconds later…

Briiiiinnnnnng Briiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnngggg!
Briiiinnnnnnnnnnngggg!

“What?”

“Hi Mommy, I’m sorry I’m calling, but I knew I should ask your permission. Can I take a picture of my friends on my cell phone?”

“OK, but don’t call again.”

“OK, love you!”

“Me too.”

Hang up…

You guessed it. Again she calls, for another stupid reason, and I tell her if she calls again, I am not going to let her use the phone any longer.

“But Mom, I just miss you, and wanted to tell you how much I love you!”

“I love you too.” Pause. “Do not call again.”

She does. Call again. And I can still see her from the kitchen window, but you know what? I guess I don’t care that she has called me like seven times in a matter of four minutes. She wants me to know where she is and that she is being responsible and not getting into any trouble…

She wants to stay connected.

And that’s the best thing about this Kajeet cell phone. We’re connected. Still. It’s almost as if her father never actually cut that cord eight years ago, and if a cell phone makes me feel this way, then it’s all good!

Anyway, this KAJEET phone is a great way to keep your kids connected. There are all sorts of ways to block calls, allow only certain people to call, limit their time on the phone. It’s definitely on the cutting edge of kid-cell phones, and my kids cannot get enough of it.

And I love it because I will always know where they are, even if they are not really old enough to venture away from me further than the cul-de-sac at the street over. And I also love it because it doesn’t bark or pee or hump my leg like a puppy would.

Yay Kajeet! Go out and get yourself one. For your family. For your sanity! INSTEAD OF A PUPPY!*

*A special note to M—I know you love puppies, and I do love doggies too, just not one in my own home! Winka winka!

23 comments:

Crazymamaof6 said...

ohhh, a cell phone! yes my 8 yr old begs for one. how does this compare to firefly or disney phone? i may need to check this out. but ya know i'd rather get the dog. and i am not a dog person. i have just felt an aversion to buying them a phone. odd i know. but i free one? i could handle that!

Drewpy Drew said...

At ten cents a call that was seventy cents of I Love You. Sounds like a bargain to me.

And the phone probably doesn't stick it's nose in your crotch.

Kelly said...

and hey, the cell phone is WAY easier to clean up after!

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

That phone sounds like a great idea! My 8 year old has been hinting for one really hard lately. Course she trades off between whining about a puppy and then a cell phone. What is it with all the kids? Are they all on the same wavelength?

But I will definitely check this out! Thanks.

KATE said...

Hey, I just put my husband on the task of looking up that phone! Good job!! I'm excited I've been thinking of getting one for the kids, just in case ya know missing the bus, etc. Anyhow, thanx for the tip, I'm checking it out.
The funny thing is I wouldn't get a puppy if you paid me! The thought of puppy mess makes me break out into hives!! ha ha
I much prefer the thought of a phone!!
Thanx!!

Anonymous said...

Ok, so you'll know where they SAY they are....

(Can't believe I 'm back again!)

Patti said...

everytime the word "kajeet" popped up i was thinking of the ancient art of karate....hiiiii-yaaaa!

KAJEET!

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

Amanda, see, I'm kinda like crack, aren't I... hee hee hee! Glad you stopped back by!

The phone is definitely cleaner than a dog! Love the crotch comment Drew!

kay said...

my 11 year old has been hinting at a cell phone. this may be the answer.


thanks!!

Cecily R said...

Oh NO! I can't do a cell phone OR a puppy! They both freak me out. Puppies are puppyish and I already have a four month old. Cell phones seem even more teenager-esque than Isaac's baggy pants and boxers. The whole thing just makes me feel sqidgy.

Matt said...

I'm not sure, but I think you might like the Kajeet. :)


Hehehe... My wife still asks for puppies... and a pony. Does anyone else have a jar in the laundry room for throwing loose change in? Our is a growler we call "the Pony Fund."

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good thing to check out more. My girls all want cell phones, and I bought them the pay to go ones because hubby won't add them on our account. The minute cards are expensive and a pain!!
The Kajeet is 10 cents a minute and 35 cents a day. But at least we are not worrying about the minute factor, a huge pain.
Thanks for the tip.

I love puppies. I hope you end up falling in love with one and bringing it home.

Anonymous said...

the dog thing...as long as you're not a cat person I'll forgive you

teahouse said...

Hahaha..very cute.

And awww..I think it's adorable that your daughter wants to talk to you every 10 seconds!! If I remember correctly from my own childhood, she may be soon at the point where she'll start thinking you're totally uncool and want nothing to do with you...

Mary said...

We got our girls each a cellie. Last month our cell phone bill was over $500!

They were both so very innocent. They each just went over their daytime minutes a little bit - and only texted a few times - really!

Good luck.

Btw.... my dog just puked on the living room rug. It's a toss up really.... dog or cellie. hmmmm.... why do my kids have both? why?

Anonymous said...

I just may have a problem.

Kim stopped blogging - allegedly to concentrate on writing - so where do I find myself? Over here AGAIN!

BTW, Kim fell off the wagon ALREADY! Guess it must be going really well then.

Matchbox Mom said...

That is awesome! I'm glad that they have fun things like that out there! My kids don't have a cell phone or a puppy!! We're deprived.

Tami

Liane Spicer said...

Call me a wet blanket, but you're gonna regret this.....

Unknown said...

If it's a pay-as-you-go, and if you're the one putting money on it, and if it's to help you feel more connected, can you also control what numbers are called so that all of the minutes aren't used up gabbing away to everyone else? My mom and I got a pay-as-you-go for my brother a few years back so that we could stay in touch. We put the first $100 on there, but we still didn't get to talk to him because he used all his minutes up talking to everyone else and didn't keep minutes on there regularly...

But I guess if she's using all the minutes calling you every few seconds, that's a different matter, right?

Supercool Mom said...

That is so funny! I got my 13 yr. old one and told him that he could only use it if it was an emergency and he would otherwise use a payphone or something. He was so tight with it, that we kept racking up the pay-as-you-go payments and it finally died with something like $60 in credit!

Anonymous said...

Hey Manic, just tried your book again and skipped down a bit further....it's growing on me, slowly, and I wouldn't fancy your revisions but it's growing on me. You obviously write like you talk

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

Amanda--is it growing on you like a slow cancer that won't die, or like a weed you cannot get rid of?

You must really hate that Kim's not blogging! There's nowhere else to go but Manic's house! yahhhahahahahahahahah!

: )

KATE said...

Hey girl, I was going to say something so damn funny & crude as a response to your comment on my blog...but again prude family looks at it. Sorry, family sucks sometimes. How the hell are you?
Oh, & I was going to comment on how I didn't think that pic of Vanessa was her, b/cuz it looked a little funny & her body & face looked like it had different coloring. Anyhow, she admitted it was. I guess I'm wrong!! I will say this...If I looked that good I'd pose in the buff too!!!
love ya - Kate