DD, 11YO, HATES it when we make her take a cell phone anywhere. But sometimes, we make her. It is definitely under protest.
Today, there was no school, due to semester break. She went on a day-trip to an indoor waterpark about 110 miles away. This was through the park and rec department. They were supposed to leave at 8am and get back about 5pm.
DD was supposed to start babysitting at 6pm,and that mom knew that she was going to the waterpark, and if she was going to be a few minutes late, I would fill in with the babysitting, and she would come over when she got home. I had her call me when they were leaving the waterpark, just to see how things were going for timing. This was at 3pm. BTW, it just started snowing she tells me.
At 4PM, she called again. They are sitting in a traffic jam. We tried to narrow down where she was. This isn't good. In good traffic, it was about 1.25 hours away. She says they aren't moving at all. BTW mom, it is still snowing.
I half panic, and call DH, we rearrange his car pool so he can pick up DD - when they get home. That way I can be home to baby sit. I leave work. Geez Louise - it is really snowing outside.
DD calls again about 4:30. They aren't much further than the last time we had talked. I told her the plans (dad picking her up, me filling in on babysitting)
At 5:15, she calls DH. Tells him where they are stopping for a bathroom break (shouldn't take long, there are only 90 kids on this trip
) She also mentions to DH, that her battery is starting to go.
But we had all the info we needed. Figured about when she would be home etc. DH picks her up - gives her some dinner.
By the time she relieved me at HER babysitting job, it was almost 8:00. (Never in a million years would I have dreamed she would have been 2 hours late!)
When DD and I were talking at house she was babysitting for - she apologized for how many minutes she probably used up on the phone. She said she let many kids use her phone. She also hoped we wouldn't get charged too much for roaming fees (we don't get charged for them.)
We generally have many more minutes in a month than we use. If we went over on minutes, tough. If there are roaming fees (there won't be) - this was more of an emergency type of situation - who cares what the fees would be. But she still feels bad. I reminded her - that's why we made you take the phone. There are too many things in life you can't control.
While everything worked out fine - it was still a little nerve-wracking. Next time we request that she take a cell phone - I wonder how much flack she will give us - I'm hoping alot less.
Today, there was no school, due to semester break. She went on a day-trip to an indoor waterpark about 110 miles away. This was through the park and rec department. They were supposed to leave at 8am and get back about 5pm.
DD was supposed to start babysitting at 6pm,and that mom knew that she was going to the waterpark, and if she was going to be a few minutes late, I would fill in with the babysitting, and she would come over when she got home. I had her call me when they were leaving the waterpark, just to see how things were going for timing. This was at 3pm. BTW, it just started snowing she tells me.
At 4PM, she called again. They are sitting in a traffic jam. We tried to narrow down where she was. This isn't good. In good traffic, it was about 1.25 hours away. She says they aren't moving at all. BTW mom, it is still snowing.
I half panic, and call DH, we rearrange his car pool so he can pick up DD - when they get home. That way I can be home to baby sit. I leave work. Geez Louise - it is really snowing outside.
DD calls again about 4:30. They aren't much further than the last time we had talked. I told her the plans (dad picking her up, me filling in on babysitting)
At 5:15, she calls DH. Tells him where they are stopping for a bathroom break (shouldn't take long, there are only 90 kids on this trip
) She also mentions to DH, that her battery is starting to go.But we had all the info we needed. Figured about when she would be home etc. DH picks her up - gives her some dinner.
By the time she relieved me at HER babysitting job, it was almost 8:00. (Never in a million years would I have dreamed she would have been 2 hours late!)
When DD and I were talking at house she was babysitting for - she apologized for how many minutes she probably used up on the phone. She said she let many kids use her phone. She also hoped we wouldn't get charged too much for roaming fees (we don't get charged for them.)
We generally have many more minutes in a month than we use. If we went over on minutes, tough. If there are roaming fees (there won't be) - this was more of an emergency type of situation - who cares what the fees would be. But she still feels bad. I reminded her - that's why we made you take the phone. There are too many things in life you can't control.
While everything worked out fine - it was still a little nerve-wracking. Next time we request that she take a cell phone - I wonder how much flack she will give us - I'm hoping alot less.
