Inappropriate behavior not discussed...

I think that having a cell phone with texting capabilities at 9, 10 or 11 is excessive. The only people they should be able to contact is their parents or babysitters.

I'm a brat --I'd forward them to the girls' moms.

This is yet another reason tweens don't need cell phones. They need those disney phones or whatever they are that can only called like mom, dad and 911. In my opinion cell phones in this age group and even teens is nothing but trouble, with the harassment and sexting and all that other stuff parents should monitor their kids more closely. Anyway i would have gone to those girls mothers and informed them of their behavior as well as tell the girls how inappropriate, disrespectful and disappointing their behavior was.

this is wrong for so many reasons, why do they have cell phones at 9? I would have said something, no one talks to my kids that way especially not some little spoiled brat witha cell phone.

My skids both have cell phones that their BM bought for them. I think it is just crazy to spend that kind of money on cell phones. My son wants one now and he is 10 yo. Not gonna happen...he can have a cell phone when he can pay for it. My skids are 10 and 12. She is insane and all about keeping up with the Jones'. More power to her but their wants are just gonna keep getting more expensive, and what is she gonna do when she doesn't have the money to spend on those things? She will probably call us, well guess what the answer will be NO!

I'm one that believes in talking it out. I'd have gone to the parents myself and told them of the inappropriate behavior. It affected you indirectly that time but what if they talk like that when your child is out in public with them? What if they talk to her like that when you are not around? It's bully mentality and should be addressed. I'd tell them straight up in front of their parents that if they continued that type of behavior they were no longer welcome in my home. My dd went after high school kids yesterday that said something vulgar to my grandson on the way home after he got off the bus. She's a tiny woman but she got their attention and listened to her. She'll report it to the school since it happened on the way home from. She'll also let the authorities know what happened in case of a future incident. If she can find where they live then she'll talk to the parents. The point is 2 let bullies know u r watching

I think that a child having a cell phone is a good idea only if they are shown how to be responsible with it. It's up to mom and dad to decide to get them one in the first place. My oldest is 11 and she has her own phone. She has text capabilities, but no camera just yet. I check her phone regularly, and she doesn't erase her messages or call logs or anything. I have taught her that the only reason I got her this phone is because she walks home from school and I need to know that she can contact me at any time. I feel safer that way. However she almost lost it last year, because she was messing with it during school, and letting other kids use it. I told her having a phone is a privilege, and one that can be taken away. This hasn't happened again, if it does she won't have a phone for awhile. Simple. Teach them responsibility, and if they can't follow the rules, they don't need a phone.

I don't see this as a question of cell phones but really a question about intervening and contacting other children's parents about their behavior...am I wrong about that? I tend to err on the side of NOT contacting other kids' parents. It usually doesn't end well and everyone winds up defensive and angry at one another. I know, many of you are going to say that if you child was doing something like this you would want to know about it, but.....it is more complicated than that. Sometimes parents are quick to latch on to something they think another parents' child did that was wrong and they use that as an opportunity to show what a great parent they are...their "zero tolerance" and how protective they are of their own child. Now, with an attitude like that coming at you are you still sure you would want to be told? In a perfect world where parents are genuinely supportive of one another,would be good to know. Not judged.

Why all the opinions on cell phones? Thats not even what the question was. Whether or not these kids have cell phones is between them and their parents. If they werent texting nasty messages, it would be nasty phone calls or gossiping in school. Nothings changed but the technology. I think that since it happened at your home, you do have the right to take this information to the girls mothers and discuss it. I know I would have. You also did the right thing by presenting it to the mother of the child on the receiving end and she chose not to address it. THats her choice and its likely shes a non confrontational person. Im a person who wants to do whats right, stand up for whats right and fight for whats right, regardless of the person I offend. You could respectfully tell them that while another child was in your care, their daughters sent innapropriate mess. to this childs phone. Then let them handle it how they see fit. GL!!