“I’m sorry, Declan had my phone.”
Chances are if you have tried to text or call me in the past year this was an excuse you heard from me.
It’s true, though. Declan did have my phone. What had started innocently enough of me giving it to him at restaurants or appointments to help him with the wait, turned into him walking into the house after school and collecting my phone for his evening enjoyment of YouTube and music.
My phone turned into this macaroni and cheese crusted object. Impossible to read anything on the heavily protected screen, it was so dirty. I got access to my phone again every morning after Declan left for school and would spend minutes wiping the phone down, freeing it from its debris. Even using an old toothbrush to get the hard to reach places.
And even though Declan was given explicit directions to give me my phone if someone was trying to reach me, well, as he put it, he didn’t because he was “busy.” You know, “busy” with my phone. So, each morning, after I could read the screen again, I scrolled through any possible missed messages and began my apologies.
“I’m sorry, Declan had my phone.”
My phone was an old Samsung. I never really thought I needed the newest of anything, so when I needed a new phone, I decided on a (cheap) old version of a phone. The pictures were so cloudy, which to be honest, is all I ever really used my phone for outside of your typical phone stuff.
Since Declan had my phone ALL THE TIME there wasn’t any social media on it. I had this scary thought that he may start a live Facebook video one day and capture me in one of my not so finest moments for everyone to see. The thought alone led me to delete anything he could accidentally get on and broadcast.
So, when Bob finally gave up on brainstorming on his own, he decided to ask me.
“What do you want for Christmas?”
And as I listened to Declan bounce on his trampoline, grunting while he listened to his favorite songs on my phone, I answered, “A new phone. My OWN phone.”
Being tired of the kids having better phones than my own, I wanted a new iPhone. Not the one with all the bells and whistles, but the one that would at least take better pictures.
I really like my new phone. I am trying not too like it TOO much though. I figure the second the universe knows how much I like my phone it will destroy it. I like my phone just enough. (Shhh…A lot).
In order to get my OWN phone for Christmas, I relinquished my old phone to Declan to follow the same after school routine. Now he has his own phone to crust in as much macaroni and cheese as he sees fit.
As a family we all got excited for Declan to have his own phone. As few have witnessed before, when Declan texted, he was sending little shiny pearls that guaranteed a smile.
Sadly, for me, since I am the one who is with Declan all the time, I don’t get the texts. Turns out Bob is getting all these wonderful little nuggets of happiness.
Declan’s communication through the phone is still the same as before, I have realized. He communicates when he wants to and will not answer if he is “busy.”
Thankfully, I was one room away when I heard this conversation.
“Hello? Oh! HI DAD!”
“No, she’s not here. I am on my trampoline and she is not in here.”
“No, I can’t get her now. I am busy.”
“No, I’m sorry. I am busy.”
“I can’t get her. I am busy. I have to go now but I DO love you, Dad. Goodbye.”
Finding my OWN NEW phone at the bottom of my purse with Bob’s missed call, I returned the call. And then we laughed at the brutal (completely loving) honesty of Declan, and his new (old) phone.
I love Declan’s priorities!!
Haha! I know! He’s too funny 🙂
I’m not sure how old Declan is, since I’m new to your blog, but he sounds like my 5-year old and I refuse to get her a phone, even though she’s asked. Lol. So now she has an old iPad that used to be my aunts so she can watch some dumb YouTube channel that tries to sell her toys, or rather, tries to get her to tell mommy and daddy to buy her toys.
He’s 8 1/2 and I would never get him a new phone, but if this old one keeps him off mine then it works for me. He doesn’t have an iPad, but a kindle – I think he likes the phone because he spends so much time on his trampoline and he can hold the phone easily to listen to his songs and jump. But, in a little bit, he’ll probably be doing the same thing as your daughter – surfing those YouTube channels watching people open mystery eggs or play with toys that he is going to want.
I keep an eye on what she watches and put some educational games on for her. she’s only 5, but her brother is 13 so she sees him on his devices. I’ve also found another benefit to the phone, which is adding ABC mouse on there. I have to set limits, though, because otherwise she’d be on there all the time! And what is with those mystery eggs anyhow? lol!
Ah, kids!
They keep you smiling (most of the time) 🙂
Glad he gets so much enjoyment out of it.
Me too! Thanks Susie!
I have to keep my phone on my person at all times or an alarm goes off in Ben’s head and he swoops in. He has his tablet, but he wants my phone. I tried hiding the YouTube app… of course he found it🙄😂
He’s bad about being ‘busy’ too. I rarely get calls, usually my daughter or my doctor…important calls. He can be right next to me and he just declines the call. He’ll even put the volume on mute. Sneaky little Bootyhead 😂😂
I’m glad you got a new phone that you sorta like😉🤞 I love Declan’s texting and meme usage. Ben hasn’t figured that out yet. He’s recently become paparazzi with his tablet camera🙄😱(delete, delete, delete)
Yea! Declan has a kindle but he always wanted my phone. I couldn’t figure out what mine had that his kindle didn’t. I think it was just the size, because he was always so “busy” he would just ignore anyone trying to make contact the same way Ben does. Decline, Decline, Decline. Thank you! He does well with voice to text – it seems to get his words way more right than it does for me! Declan wants to make youtube videos. I think his last one was “how to pack my school lunch.” Maybe I was the intended audience? Cause I’m the packer 🙂
This made me smile. A lot. Sorry for the pun but it rings so true here. The daily cleaning fest. The just need to finish this game. The I’ve changed your screen saver. I switched to iPhone as they seemed more bomb proof. That said I work on the basis of the latest model minus at least 4. Currently at the heady heights of the iPhone7. I think you’ve earned that phone.
Haha! Yes! And the I just need to finish this video. I tried to “Declan Proof” my phones with these monster cases around them – so far, so good but that is good to know the iPhone is more sturdy (just in case he ever gets his grubby little paws on it 🙂 )
I would have loved to see you on FB live. I’m sure Declan could figure out how to make that happen. I’m glad you finally got your own phone. My phone has a case with the rubber bumpers around the edge. My problem is not kids, but my fumble-fingered self.
I have one of those too! I always marveled when I took the phone out to really clean the case that it was so thin and so small – because with that “Declan Proof” case on the phone looks like a little box. But, it hasn’t broken so I’ll take it!
😊❤️
Yayyy for a phone you can call your own! I can completely relate to sharing!! This year our oldest got a (new to her, but old) phone with a nice red new case. She’s practicing her texting skills and learning how to call people. It’s been an interesting ride!
That’s great! Declan has learned how to do voice to text. His grandparents and my husband and I eagerly text him in hopes he feels like chatting, but unless he’s got something to say, he’s not interested in idle chatter. I understand, but I wish he was because I do love his texts 🙂
“This is Declan. I am bouncing on a trampoline right now but if you leave your name and number my awesome dad will get back to you. Thank you”
That would work!