Under my son’s choices of ‘books’ and ‘sports equipment’ came an ‘iPhone’ – but I’m prepared to be Scrooge on the issue
New stats show 96pc of Irish secondary school children aged 12-15 own a smartphone. Phone: Stock/Getty
Christmas is upon us again and it’s the season to say no. Grinch, Scrooge, the mean dad in Elf – I’ll take all the insults out there to hold my ground on the issue that unites parents across the land.
Up against me is my 11-year-old with his PR-savvy Santa list, with “some books, David Walliams is fine” bumped to the top and a filling of sports equipment before getting down to the gadgets and the killer punchline: “Please get me an iPhone even though my mam and dad won’t let me. It will help with homework!”