Heck. I didn’t get mine until I was 30. My Mother and sister had one before I did but only a few years. My children do not get a cell phone until 10 and it has worked pretty well. I couldn’t stand having to wait for the kids to finish up sports and other stuff. Now I can get a call when they finish practice and by the time I get there they are done with locker room, last minute talk with friends. My children are 17, 15, 13, and 8. They are good kids. Mostly because my wife is a great Mom. Plus I haven’t had to bail them out of jail yet. The only thing that sucks is that my oldest graduates high school this year and off to college in August........My wife and I often talking about wishing we had more children. We did leave it up to God and he said 4 was enough........we had a hell of a time getting number 4.
I also have four children and I wish I had had more. While my oldest did not get his cell phone until he graduated from college, the younger ones got them between the ages of 16 and 18. It wasn’t even an issue for the boys. They didn’t really even care if they had one or not. But, we wanted to be able to stay in touch with them when they were out taking classes or whatever (we’re homeschoolers). Now, my daughter seems to be far more attached to the phone then her older three brothers were. She’s probably the only one we regret giving a phone to. But, I like be able to keep in touch with her when she is out beyond the time she says she will be home. For some reason, I worry about her more than I did when the boys were her age. When the boys were her age, I actually didn’t worry at all about them.
I feel your pain when you talk about your oldest graduating. It’s very hard, but it’s also very exciting to see your children leave and follow their dreams and tackle life using what you have taught them for 18 years. I only have one left at home. My oldest is married and working as an engineer and just had his first child. My second son is 26, owns his own home and has worked his way up to management in an engineering firm. My youngest son just started medical school this past fall. I couldn’t be more excited for any of them. While I miss them every day, and while I miss the days we spent together during their childhood, I wouldn’t have them living back here with me for anything. That wouldn’t be right.
I will ask God to give you peace as you let go of your kids. I totally understand what you’re going through. It isn’t easy. But, you will make the transition and learn to enjoy them as adults.