Why I'm the Last Person to Get a Smartphone

I want a smartphone so bad I crave it. 

I’ll admit it. When I need a fix, I’ll head to the cell phone kiosk at the mall so I can caress the keyboards and touch screens until the salesperson says, “Ma’am, I’ve told you repeatedly to stop making out with the BlackBerry,” and gently rips my lover from my clutch. 

Then I sadly walk out the door with my five-year-old, beat-up flip phone that has treated me well but is as technologically advanced as a Zack Morris phone. 

This weekend, I thought I had the perfect excuse to get a smartphone after I accidentally lost Zack Morris at St. Clair Square. But the thought of ponying up the funds for a new phone got me worried so I called my lost phone which was answered by a sweet gentleman who waited patiently at Macy’s until I could meet him. Argh! Darn St. Louisans with your big, caring hearts and respect for other people! 

The reason I don’t spring for a smartphone? Thanks to my self-diagnosed OCD, I know I’ll feel like I need to be connected 24/7. 

According to Ad Age, I’m not alone. In a May 5 article, the Retrevo Gadgetology Report noted that 17 percent of adults over age 25 will answer a text during a meeting, and 12 percent will text in the bathroom. Most shocking? Six percent of adults answer texts during sex. During sex! Can you imagine your partner pausing in the middle of the act and saying, “Hey – my mom wants to know if we want to meet for brunch. Gimme a sec so I can text her back.” 

A smartphone would make my life so much easier. It would spit out directions when my navigationally challenged mind gets lost in South County. Or I could use the Dragon Dictation app, which would allow me to dictate an e-mail over the phone and then send it to my coworkers. As a writer and someone who is constantly traveling for work, that would be magical. 

On the other hand, I know I would be the person who wakes up in a cold sweat at 4 a.m. and reaches for her iPhone because, “OMG – I have to check Facebook to see what that guy I knew from ninth grade had for dinner last night.” 

So, right now I’m on the fence, and I need some insights. My question to you parents is: Has your smartphone given you control over your life or has it taken control of your life?

By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting