There is a new development in parenting and it comes in the form of an electric plug and a cable. Chargers. Chargers have become an essential part of life. Each and every device has one. All with different bloody cables of course. Each one with different fixtures and fittings. Each one always left on even when there is nothing attached to it …
I digress. I did write a post a few months ago about my general frustration with chargers and the sheer volume of them in my house, but this is a whole different thing. Now I am wondering if this is something that all children now do, but I have noticed that my children’s friends (the ones in the 10 – 12 age range) all now seem to come with a charger.
Not to charge themselves of course, although one or two of them could do with one, but to charge their devices. God forbid that their device might actually lose charge for even a minute. That red line of impending doom must never appear. What would happen if the battery life dipped below 20 %???
In order to avoid this cataclysmic event from happening, the world’s teens and tweens are armed and ready. It doesn’t matter if they hardly know you, in fact, it doesn’t matter if they have never been to your house before. They all seem to assume that you if you are happy to welcome them into your house, you are happy to share your electricity.
Which of course I am (she says through gritted teeth). Whilst I am tempted to run to every plug socket they approach shouting “no”, I don’t, I just sigh quietly at the sound of another charger being added to our already monumental collection.
One thing that I have already noticed is that there are three distinct groups of kids.
First up we have the lurker. The lurker hides his charger in his pocket until he is desperate. He doesn’t want to come out and ask you if he can plug in. He just hovers nervously looking at the plug, maybe with the charger in his sweaty hands wondering if he should just run and plug it in when no-one is looking. In the end you take pity on the lurker and you can see visible relief on his face as he runs to the plug socket.
Next up is the shameless plugger. The chargers are in full sight as they walk through the door, still attached to the device and they are scanning each room for plug sockets as soon as they arrive. There will be no asking as they will find a seat near to a plug socket and are happily plugged in and playing before you have even had the chance to say hello. The shameless plugger’s devices never dip below 75% charge.
Finally, we have the courteous charger. They only charge when they have to and come and ask politely, almost embarrassed at the cheeky request. Their charge time will be quick , they don’t need 100% and they even turn the plug off when they have finished. These are my favourites. I don’t really mind wasting my watts on them.
It’s not such a big deal really I know but it is funny how you notice these things as you watch your offspring growing up but I would be interested to know if this is happening elsewhere. Have you noticed your children’s friends coming with added chargers or is it just mine?
I wish I was a shameless charger, I do like to see the 100% on my phone constantly. I’m more a courteous and sometimes even a lurker type of charger. I’ll keep going hoping that somewhere I know and am comfortable with is not too far away!
We had a 7yo turn up for his first ever play date here yesterday, with his tablet and an immediate request for the wifi code. Couldn’t believe it! Am sort of used to it with the 11yo, but don’t like it. Was flummoxed it happened to even the young ones and made them play on the trampoline and laugh and giggle but he couldn’t settle and just itched to get back to his tablet. Never asked for a charger, but did ask to go home early!