We have custody of my husband's daughter since the begining of Oct... who I absolutely adore and love as my own. But I find myself in a dilema.

She had gotten into trouble because my husband looked at the detailed bill and in a period of 9 days, spoke to her b/f 500 miles away for 2508 minutes, not to mention the house phone, and via internet. Well.. he put a stop to the excessive usage since it is only him that she is talking to.. no new friends, just him. Placed a time limit for school days. Well.. she went over it several times by hours and was texting him during school. So now now phone at school.

Last night she begged me to talk to him into letting her keep her phone instead of turning it over at 9pm ( she was talking to him at 2 in the morning)... she promised that she wouldn't use it and just wanted it for an alarm clock in the morning... well.. I looked at the detailed usage... and even though it was very clear that she wasn't allowed to talk, text or anything but listen to her music with her earbuds on, she texted him at 11, 12, 1;30 and then at 3:45. Not to mention the 50 facebook messages back and forth that started at 9:01 My husband told her if she uses it after 9, it will be taken permanently away until further notice.

My dilema is at her request when we were walking the dog begged me to talk to him to let her have her phone back last night. I realize that her mom allowed her to used the darn thing without any restrictions. Making adjustments from little parental supervision to our home is a huge change. So I asked him to give her a second chance... well she blew it big time.

I am so disappointed and feeling quite used. I wondered why she was sooo very very quiet this morning on the way to school.

Does anyone else have a teen that is so obsessed with their phone that they can't live without it? The biggest concern is the sleep thing....she doesn't sleep at night because of the dang thing.. then comes home from school and so exhausted that she sleeps until her b/f gets done with band. Her life isn't balanced if it is ruled by a cell phone and one person.

She is going to be a very unhappy camper today.... the phone is now hidden. 

Welcome to having kids in the technological age. All young kids, except for mine (she's "too cool" for what everyone else is doing), are on their phones constantly. It's crazy, but that's how they were brought up. I remember sitting on the land line for HOURS when I was younger...even sitting there watching tv shows over the phone. It's a girl thing. Maybe look into an unlimited plan? If it's her only means of communication, why not let her enjoy her younger years. And, if she's up in the middle of the night, her fault. Her grades start slipping, shut the damn thing off and get her one of those prepaid ones that you buy the minute cards for. Once you go over, the phone shuts off and you're done until you get a new card with a new code. 

Set the rules and guidelines and if she can't follow them then she pays the price. Don't baby her or feel sorry for her or else she'll use it to her advantage every chance she gets. She needs to learn that there is a price to pay for breaking the rules and since it appears her mother never taught her it now falls on you. Don't be a push over. 

bust her doing it again..then rip it out of her hands and break it in half. stomp on it. and swallow the chip. thats what id do. 

Very strict rules for the phone. There is now set times that she can actually have it in her possession and she has good old fashion alarm clock now so no need to have the phone under her pillow to wake her up.

My boys were not part of this cell phone/texting thing. When they were in HS...hardly anyone had mobible and texting wasn't available. Shoot.. I had a Zack Morrison phone when I was riding my motorcycle just for emergency use only if I was by myself and then when first bill came in after using it two times.. decided that using a payphone collect was cheaper! LOL.. Until 2 years ago.. I didn't even know how to text! LOL 

btw... if i have typos, please excuse. the steriod injection gave ne double vision. 

Get her a walmart brand phone ( straight talk) and the card with 1000minutes and 1000 texts, tell her its how much she gets until she wins your trust back, also make sure u get her a basic phone, preferably no internet on it make her read the agreement and usage terms. Tell her thats how shes going to have to live and to be happy bc otherwise id be nothing at all...she'll learn to go by with those minutes after around 3 months maybe 4 if shes stubborn. Dont let her use the fact that you want her to trust you guys and that your kind, teenagers take advantage of that. I dont have any but i was one not too extremly long ago and i have a step dad so i know that game. Good luck:) 

then you question yourself... this. is it really hurting anyone, physically, mentally or emotionally?
teens will be teens. its what they do. granted people say my kids dont have any discipline, but the oldest is in gifted and as long as she brings home a's im confident she knows right from wrong. would you rather her be at home on the phone or sneaking out the winder giving hand jobs and smoking crack? 

Well.. the phone isn't going to be a problem at all. The boy 500 miles away who promised to love and wait for her cheated on her.

Now I have a heartbroken, sick to her stomache depressed teenager. :(