Friday, July 26, 2013

Have Questions About Kids and Cell Phones?


Do you have questions about your phone, smartphone or wireless modem? Would you like to learn more?  If you're like me, your phone has many capabilities you may not even be aware of.   When I don't know how to do something on my phone, I usually hand it to my son or daughter, and they can help me out.  For instance, the other day my Weather Widget disappeared.  Why?  I have no idea, but Cory fixed it for me.

U.S. Cellular offers FREE Device Workshops for those who don't have tech-savvy young people in their lives and for anyone who wants to know more about their phones, learn about the apps that are available, and learn about the ways mobile phones can keep families connected.

For families, U.S. Cellular has recently made this fully customizable Parent-Child Agreement available for free download.  I was pretty excited about that when they posted it on Facebook - even though my kids are all grown up, and it's a bit late for us.  I really wish we'd had something like that when the kids got cell phones.  It focuses on safety and etiquette, and lets families remove, edit, and add their own guidelines.  The point is that it gives parents a starting point for discussing the responsibility that comes with owning a mobile device and makes it easy for families to set the parameters for device usage and safety.  It doesn't have to be all about rules either.  You can include some fun things like making your kids promise to share the YouTube videos they find hilarious or send at least one text a day just to let mom know they love her.  It's all up to you and what works for your family.

To go along with the Parent-Child Agreement, U.S. Cellular has been offering free Device Workshops that focus on helping families make the decision of when to get children their first phone along with ways that mobile phones can help families stay connected.  Families can get tips on setting phone guidelines as well as share suggestions that may help other families.  Of course, if you have some suggestions that worked for your kids and their cell phone usage, or things that you wish you'd thought to require or enforce, please feel free to share here.  My kids may be past this age - though I still tell them not to text and drive - but I'm sure there are other parents who could benefit from your experience.

Check to see if there's an event near you or call your local U.S. Cellular store - 262-641-5000 for the one in Brookfield we've been to a few times.  Remember that all U.S. Cellular Device Workshop are FREE, and you even earn 250 Belief Points just for going, so be sure to sign up to learn more about U.S. Cellular products and services for you and your family.  Even if you can't make it to a Workshop, U.S. Cellular associates are always happy to answer any questions you have any time you walk into the store.

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my participation in the U.S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger Brigade as well as receiving a new phone.  My experiences with and opinions of U.S. Cellular are 100% mine.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

An Update is Long Overdue

I haven't had much chance to blog recently - or even get online for much more than a quick perusal of Facebook.  What have I been doing?

It involves a bunch of these:


A big one of these:


Some really hard-working people to pack and load and then unload again.  And then we got to start unpacking and organizing and deciding where things go - and how long is this going to take?


You really don't realize how much stuff you have until it's time to move!  Really.  I know there are kitchen counters there somewhere.

I'm gradually getting organized, at least in the kitchen - along with finding clothes to wear and the things we need in the bathroom, all the important things.  I even made bread yesterday in my new kitchen.  Because sourdough starter must be used or fed regularly - though mine is pretty forgiving even when I neglect it for a bit. 


We got a few groceries the other night, and get to eat real food now, even if the only refrigerator we have is in the garage.  We bought a new fridge and even a dishwasher - I've never bought a dishwasher before, never used one either for that matter - but we've had to postpone delivery.  Twice.  Not so handy having the only fridge in the garage, but it's better than nothing, and I'm so thankful we have that.  And definitely thankful not to have to eat any more fast food.  I don't know how Jeffrey stood it for so long.  A few days was long enough for me.  We even had dinner outside on our patio this evening, because the weather has been glorious.  Absolutely wonderful.


We are gradually getting organized, and it's starting to look like a real house.  I might even have time soon to sit down and post that really long, overdue update about everything that has been going on.  Since March.


Thursday, July 04, 2013

Hanging Out With My Buddy

I spent today with my little buddy Jason.  His mommy had something she had to do, so he spent the night last night and then all day today.  We didn't do much - just read lots of books, colored, snuggled, etc.

We had breakfast on the deck this morning and took some pictures, too - just because.  I really like the way Google puts pictures together into an animation.  It's kind of fun.


I don't get anything done when Jason's here, but we have fun.