Well, my video is late. You know, I can make videos all the livelong day of super important things like my kids singing Jingle Bells, Batman Smells, but then when I have an actual deadline, I have technical difficulties. Rats. Anyway, I’ll try to get the actual video clip posted here tomorrow, but in the meantime, I can give you the jist of our conversation. You guys had some fabulous questions for Kayley! I tried to address as many as I could. Here we go.

How do you feel about parents reading text messages? Do they have a right to read them if they pay the phone bill?

If they pay the bill, yeah. I’m not real happy about it, but I understand it

Should kids be limited in the hours they are able to text?

Maybe like during the week, yeah, but not on the weekend. Hint hint. Just kidding. (Kayley’s phone turns off at 11 pm.)

Do you feel left out if you don’t text? Do you ever miss out on anything because people inform you of events or schedule changes via text message and you don’t always get it?

Yeah, definitely. I don’t even always have my phone on me, so I’d rather they just leave me a voicemail if it’s something important.

If you have friends with no texting, do you tend to call them or just wait until you see them in person.

It depends on the person. We usually just talk on Facebook anyway!

Why is texting so important to teens?

I have NO IDEA. I don’t know why it’s so important. No idea. It’s so annoying. We’re all so annoying!

How often do you text?

Not that often, because I know my texting is limited now, so I’m always worried I’m going to run out of texts before the month is up.

Where is the weirdest place or time that you have texted?

I have been texted during a funeral…uhhhh…multiple times between 2 and 4 a.m. by multiple people…. (And this is why her phone is restricted now!)

Have you ever been sexted? How did you/would you react?

Uhhhh…plead the 5th on that one? I reacted awkwardly, I guess. I don’t think I know of anyone else who has. Not personally, anyway – there are always people who do that stuff, but most people just make fun of them.

Have you heard of that jammer thing that prevents cell phones from working in the car when the ignition is on? What do you think about that?

I think that’s a great idea. I wouldn’t mind it in the car. Nothing else seems to stop anyone, even the fact that it’s illegal here!

Do you think that texting has affected the English language and ability to write a proper sentence among teenagers and young adults?

ABSOLUTELY. Absolutely. It has completely screwed up the language. But…you know me. And I text well. I punctuate. I capitalize. I use, y’know, GRAMMAR. People think I’m lame, but it’s just what I do.

Okay, here’s a good question. “I just asked my son what he thinks about a parent reading their child’s text messages since the parent usually pays for the phone. My son’s response was that it would be a great invasion of pricacy and the parent should know and trust the child or teen. I agree to an extent, there are alwyas those signs of something going on that parents should know about but don’t. I’d like to know how your daughter feels about this.”

Well…it’s the parents’ business because they’re responsible for you. They created you. It’s like, they’re paying your bill, they’re paying for the stupid phone, they can look at your…whatever It’s more theirs than yours.

Like I always tell you, “I bought that phone for me, not for you, so I CAN GET A HOLD OF YOU, not so you can talk to your friends.” Right?

Yeah, pretty much.

What about if YOU were paying the bill?

Well then that would be different. I wouldn’t want you looking at it at all.

But you’re still a minor child, living under our roof and following our rules…you don’t think I should investigate if I feel like something’s up?

*SIGH* I guess, but I’m not happy about it.

Do you feel like it’s a harsh punishment when parents take away texting?

Well..for everyone but me. I had mine taken away for so long that I got used to not having it!

Do you think people get into trouble when they text because they say things they wouldn’t ordinarily say in a face-to-face conversation?

Well, obviously. The majority of modern technology is that way, though – I mean, that’s where I learn everything, either over the phone or Facebook, so that’s where everybody gets all their info. Rumors spread faster, simple typos cause great misunderstanding, and so on. It’s not at all limited to texting, and I would say it’s actually worse online.

Is there ever an inappropriate time to text?

Yeah, definitely. The majority of time, wherever I go, I look over anywhere anytime and somebody is texting and it’s rude. Like, I don’t text at The Well and stuff, but everybody else does. And I’m like, there’s 200 people in here you can talk to, come on. You can’t spend this hour a week not on your phone? So lame.

…………….

Lame, indeed! So, there you have it. The perspective of a 15-year-old, who just recently got her cell phone back after losing it for three months. I think the break did her good! Have you had a similar conversation with your own kids about texting, sexting, and safety? BlogHer is matching LG’s donation of .50 to dosomething.org for every comment on this post, so please tell me about your conversation with your kids in the comments.