My 13 year old spends FOREVER on the phone with her friends. Friends she just left at school, friends from church, cousins, you name it. It's like an addiction. What can I do?

I would just lay down some ground rules for her. For example, no longer than 1 hour on the phone each evening or no phone calls until after 8pm.

Kids love talking, and they always love to not listen to you and your rules!

The best thing I could think of suggesting is having a limit on how much of the phonebill you are willing to pay. Anything over the limit, they will have to find a way to pay for!

Of course since the kids 13 and probably doesn't have a job, they will suddenly grow concerned enough to keep the phone call short :D

The few times I wanted to talk on the phone I had a kitchen timer set for 15minutes. When the timer went off I had to wait at least an hour before having more phone time.

Limits really need to be set. I was never allowed on the phone for a full hour unless it was family and long distance.

The biggest part of the problem is not so much the length of the time on the calls, but she calls their cell phones. I don't know what's up until the phone bill comes in. I've billed her but if she stops using the phone today, she'd still be paying when she's 25 years old. Do I bill her boyfriend at that time...?:rolleyes: