Topic : 09/10 Season 6 Premiere!

Hi!  Dr Phil's first show has just aired today in Australia.  I has horrified at chelsea's mothers reaction.  If that was my child i would be taking her car away from her.  She is obviously not mature enough to drive, if all she worries about is her phone.  If she is that attached to her phone, then she can keep it and lose the privelige of driving a car.  In Australia it is illegal to drive and talk or text on a mobile phone.

Thanks for the chance to air my opion.  Love the show....watching always from Oz

...there are so many parents out there that are scared stiff of their kids.

The first time I took her phone away, she got physically ill. I remember reading an article about how kids are so addicted to their cell phones these days that they have actual symptoms of withdrawal," she replies. "She was sobbing uncontrollably and crawling across the floor begging me, 'Mommy, please don't take my phone.'"

****************

Is she for REAL?  I have not been able to get her out of my head since I saw the show air.  We all want the best for our kids.  Fine.  That does NOT include cell phones, iPods,  new cars, and other things they take for granted.  Those things are PRIVILEGES, NOT RIGHTS.  The kids have the right to a safe home, love, discipline, food, clean clothes, and other things that make living comfortable. 

Not only would I have taken her cell phone, car keys, and turned off her computer (by putting it in MY room) but until she showed some compassion, responsibility, and respect for authority (beginning with mine), she would not get either back.  I'd be taking her to and from school, and then to and from her job (oh YES she would be getting one) and if she slipped in her grades, then there really would be hell to pay. 

This (texting and driving, and driving while talking on cell phones) is becoming as devastating as DUI and DWI's. 

I think the first time that a driver under the age 18 is found to be either yapping and driving or texting and driving, their license is suspended for six months.  Second, a year, third time, five years.  Provided no injuries or property damage had occured.  If either had occured, then triple the time for the first two, add a $5,000 fine, TO BE PAID IN FULL and/or jail time.  We need to get these kids' eyes off the phone and back on the road where they belong.

Legally, I know this is hard to enforce, partially because cops are not babysitters, nor are they subsitutes for a parent's lack of setting boundaries for their kids.  I also think part of why this would be hard to enforce is because we as Americans can be very uptight when it comes to giving up our 'toys'.  Think I am wrong?  Give up your computer or cell phone for a week.  Your TV with satelite or cabe for 2 days, or your car for ONE day.  A WEEK day. 

Not only would I have taken her phone, I would have smashed it to bits in front of her and told her if she bought another one, I'd do the same not only to her phone, but to her computer, then hide her car keys.

Yeah, I am probably a witch of a mother, but which is worse, a parent who won't let her kid think they are entitled to all the neat little toys of today's technology, or being the grieving mother of the child she kills with that little bit of technology?