So you know I love my iPhone, right? I mean, if the house were on fire, after the kids and the photos were out, my iPhone would be right there on the “get it out now!” list.

You might also know that I’ve been guilty of texting while driving, which I completely regret and for which I offer many apologies. I applaud Utah and their new law. We just shouldn’t be driving and sending messages at the same time. No way. No how.

I used to worry about kids driving and talking on their phones. A few years ago, our friend’s nanny was driving, and talking, and accidentally ran a red light. By all accounts, she was a very nice girl and a great nanny, but her error killed a 10-year old boy in the other car and all of their lives have been changed forever. So my worry wasn’t misplaced. There are enough things to distract a driving teen. They really don’t need to be talking about what Jason said to Brittney in math class while they’re behind the wheel.

As if talking while driving weren’t enough, then the texting began. And e-mails. You can check your e-mail on your phone! Now this is a terrific feature if you have downtime between a class or meeting, or are in an extremely long and unproductive meeting, but it’s a horrible temptation for a teenager behind the wheel. If you think kids aren’t paying attention while driving and talking, I can’t imagine how focused on the road they are while driving and texting.

Then today, I read that a new study shows that incoming text alerts are affecting the sleep quality of half of all 16-year olds. It’s the little beeeeep, I guess, that’s waking them up. I’m no expert, but let me just tell you that if my kids (or I) don’t get enough sleep, it’s not pretty around here. The good news just keeps coming. Although, I must say, I’m less worried about lack of sleep because of text messages than I am about kids not focusing while driving because of text messages. But then, one can lead to the next, couldn’t it? A sleepy kid driving and texting…now that’s a scenario I hate to imagine.

But back to the point. When I read this study, I had one question, and it was this: Why do these kids have their cell phones in their bedroom?

What parent thinks this is a great idea? You’ve heard of sexting, right?

Come on, parents!

Back in the day, we used to want a regular old land-line phone in our bedrooms because it was cool. We wanted to have privacy. We needed privacy to talk about why Jim and Carla were arguing or why Bridget and Mickey broke up for the third time this semester. These were weighty issues folks. We needed that phone.

I didn’t get one, of course. Thank goodness, really, because now I know that an old-fashioned phone cord can be stretched around multiple corners and will fit under doors when necessary.

I also learned a little something about limits. And without going off on an extremely long tangent about setting parameters on cell phone use during family time, let me suggest that there is a time to turn those phones off. Period. Designate a place in the kitchen, office, or family room for phones to be re-charged at night and leave them there. Until morning.

Kids sleep in their rooms. Phones don’t. Sleep problems solved.

Look at that, I saved you a trip to the doctor’s office. Don’t mention it. You’re very welcome, of course.

Any dissenters? Other thoughts? Let’s hear ‘em.