9 year old birthday present.. mobile phone

redsquarelady

hi,
just hoping for a bit of advice..

my husbands ex-wife (mother of child) has brought her a mobile phone for her 9th birthday.
my oh an myself thought this was too young.
So my step daughter comes over for the weekend, novelty of having a phone too much and spends all day calling and texting her mother.
Then decides as she wants to go home to her mothers house. Her mother is working 2 jobs and doesn't really want her home till tomorrow. So her mothers sister picks her up and is now at her house.
My problem is this.. 8/9 year olds get board at some point during the day, step daughter thinks that now she has a phone she can just call different family members up to go somewhere else less boring at that moment in time.
My oh is gutted and annoyed
any ideas as now oh and exwife having a few rows
thanks

kippers

Just wanted you to know i am thinking of you. I don't agree that a 9 yr old should have a mobile (my 9 yr old daughter has asked for one and i have said no). I think 'dad' and 'mum' should sit your stepdaughter down and explain that she can not keep ringing up family to go somewhere else.

mrcow

Just because he's having rows with his ex doesn't mean to say that he's to allow an 8 year old walk all over him! Who's in control here?

She's with her Dad over the weekend.....not her aunt. If she wants to see her aunt then she can do so during the week or on a weekend when she's not staying with you.

Make it clear next time she comes over that if there is ever a repeat of what happened this weekend, then she won't be allowed her phone in your home.

Bit confused about the bored comments though.....I have a six year old and he's never bored! If she's nothing better to do than sit and call and text her mother all day, then perhaps you need a rethink on what you're doing with her when she comes over?

redsquarelady

thanks for your replies...
I think my oh has said that she's not allowed her phone at our house now.
as for being bored.. anything i suggest doing 'is boring' apparently:o

ailuro2

It's a wierd age, my DD just turned 9, and she's past playing with her dolls, but we don't allow her to have TV in her room, nor a mobile phone, so she does have a whinge about it on a regular basis. Especially when the others in her class have mp3 AND 4, tv/dvd/wii AND ds aswell as being on their second mobile phone. Even if half of it is true then they're spoilt way beyond the r years, imho!!

DD loves playing card games, monopoly, helping me to make tea (but carefully supervised with knives still) and helping out making menus for the week, and other more 'grown up' things. On a weekend we all tidy the house, me and dd go to martial arts classes together, and get out for a walk or visit to a local castle. We make k'nex together too- I'm better than she is, but a bit of teamwork has come up with some fantastic creations.

redsquarelady

thank you for a few tips on keeping her entertained. I shall suggest a few things next time she comes over and see if 'isn't boring'