David is old enough for a cell phone?

I am ok with the fact that I am getting older. But it is hard to comprehend my brothers and sister growing up too. Caroline turned 21 this year, Will finished his freshman year in college, and David is behind the wheel. Unbelieveable!

One part of being the oldest is watching my parents get more and more lenient as the days go by. One recent example...

I got my cell phone the day I graduated from high school (May). Caroline got hers on her 18th birthday (February). Will got a cell phone when he turned 18 (October).

David (15) has been begging for a cell phone for quite some time. And he realized that at some point I would get a new one and say goodbye to the Darnell Family Plan (which has served me faithfully for a long time, and I am very grateful for it). Mom and Dad told David that if he could get Caroline, Will, and me to agree that it was ok for him to have my old cell phone, then he could have it.

Here are the arguments I heard for why he NEEDED a cell phone:

1. I am living in a different age that y'all did.

(Not the best idea, Dave. Are you trying to make me feel ancient? And the last time I checked, we were only 10 years apart.)

2. Everybody has cell phones now... even elementary kids!

(This is true, but really, is it necessary????)

3. You are my favorite sister.

(To which I replied, "You said that to Caroline too." And David had no response. He knew he was guilty.)

Meanwhile, David did convince Springer (another youngest child) and decided that since Springer is the head of our home, that means yes from me.

Fast forward a few weeks... Springer and I got new phones & numbers. (I am tired of explaining to people why I still have a 478 area code.) We wrapped up my old cell phone and gave it to Mom as a Mothers' Day gift. (She was in on the joke.) I was watching David as Mom was opening her presents and as a typical 15-year-old would, he was completely not paying attention... why would he care what Mom gets? Mom opened the package and went on and on about how much she needed a new phone, that hers had been messing up, and how much she loved this new one. David's face went from uninterested to confused to jubilant, when he realized what was going on. He has had a permanent grin ever since!

So the next time you call me, if you hear a man's voice, that is my brother, and you need to get my new digits.

Hope everyone is having a good week!