[Jdanz]

none of us are talking about the OP,

anyway we agree, this is semantics. Neither of us think the cell phone thing is a big deal, it's the thought/love/reasoning behind it.

If this were the only incident it would be laughably unimportant, but i believe that the reasons why or why not to grant the kid texting is likely the same reasoning they use in granting their kids all sorts of items/responsibilities.

My parents were generally permissive, but they drew lines for a reason, and the lines they drew were quite firm. These lines would not often just be a line in the sand, and if i was reasonable i could convince them to move it, if i messed up the line got moved in the other direction. Firm, but reasonable and logical.

It pissed me off sometimes, but i definetely always had a great deal of respect for my parents, and they eventually didn't have to make rules, because they would make their opinion known and i'd respect it.