It’s 2026 and we got a landline.

So, we got a landline.

You may be wondering why, which is a totally valid question! It’s 2026–everyone has a cell phone!

We’re doing our best to hold off until age 16 to give the kids a cell phone. My older two have Apple Watches, which have served the exact purpose we needed them to, and I imagine my youngest will get an Apple Watch in the next year or so as well.

There are times when I have to run up the street to the store, and some of the kids will stay home. And while they could put their watch on and I could contact them that way, I found I wanted them to have access to a quick, easy-to-use device to call me, or 911 in an emergency.

So, the landline was the answer!

Justin did the research, and we landed on an Omma phone. It’s Wi-Fi-based, which means no phone line needs to be installed! We found it to work best when the unit is plugged directly into our internet router instead of trying to connect wirelessly. There is a voicemail option, which we don’t use, and it’s a cordless phone, so my boys can take it upstairs to the playroom if I’m running an errand.

It has worked very well for us and gives me peace of mind that they have an easy-to-use device to call Justin or me on! They can also use it to call their friends, and I love that it doesn’t have a screen.

My only regret is not getting in sooner because it was relatively inexpensive, it has served the exact purpose we needed it for, and it’s allowing the kids to have social freedoms with their friends in a way that Justin and I feel comfortable with.