13 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

You had been asking for a cell phone for the past year and a half; ever since you started 6th grade. What didn’t help your case was that you set your standards way too high: a brand-new iPhone.

Mommy and I recognized that with you apparently being the only one of your friends without a cell phone, you were by default being left out of social connections with the rest of them.

Once you finally “settled” on a new Google 3 XL that we found a really good deal on, I gave you my blessing on getting your own cell phone; given that you would not be permitted to set up social media accounts:

“You have given me every reason to trust you with this responsibility. I know you are going to take really good care of it and that you’re not going to go on bad websites.”

It helps that we have got you on Mint Mobile, which is what I am on; for just $15 per month.

After you opened your special gift on Christmas morning, you then noticed that the official color was not white like we had ordered online, but instead, “not pink”.

The actually color of your phone is called “not pink”.

Fortunately, I was able to convince you that it’s so close to white that no one will even notice your phone is “not pink”, nor is it white.

To be sure, I agreed to let you order a fun phone case for your new phone. It’s a lot less trouble and less drama than having to send back the phone and wait for a new one.

At age 13, you now have a cell phone. (But no social media accounts!)

Love,

Daddy