TequilaMockingbird

The plot thickens!

This is like the hot dog conspiracy - they used to sell hot dogs in packs of 10 and buns in packs of 8. So you always had a couple extra dogs and needed to buy more buns. Rinse repeat. Big Hot Dog and Big Bun manufacturers working together to squeeze more $ out of us. But… they have since solved the problem with shrinkflation - hot dogs now sold in packs of 8 (for a higher cost than before). Thank you big Hot Dog for saving us!!

My oldest got a smart watch which could make calls only to preset numbers that we added (mom, dad, grandma, aunt, and one neighbor who had a son the same age) at 9. That’s when he started getting dropped off at friends’ houses without a parent sticking around (mind you - this was just coming off COVID lockdowns, so we may have done it sooner if there was a need to). I wanted him to always be able to reach us in any situation. He’s a really responsible kid, so he got a full smartphone the summer after 5th grade (11) when he went on the class trip to Washington DC. Currently in middle school with a smartphone and no issues yet, plus it gives us something valuable to him to take away if we feel he’s letting grades slip, etc.

My second does not seem to share the same level of responsibility, so he did not get his smart watch until 10. He may not get a smartphone anytime soon. It depends on the kid.

My youngest is 8. Time will tell about how responsible he is, but Lord - this is the child that WILL need to call us. Always getting into something 🤦🏻‍♀️.

I would love to get Hogwarts Legacy for my son - he just finished all of the books! He’s getting a new laptop for Christmas, so we haven’t focused on games, etc. yet but I’m sure he’d be thrilled to play!

This is a really fun idea, thanks for doing this!