We’re getting a landline?

Hi friends,

We’ve come to a realization: We might have made a mistake.

For years, the parenting narrative has been simple: "Delay the phone."

Keep the screens away. Protect the kids from social media.

And while we 100% agree with keeping the algorithms away, we realized recently that in an effort to protect our kids, we threw the baby out with the bathwater.

When we banned the (smart)phone, we accidentally banned a significant source of childhood agency and connection.

Think back to when you were a kid. If you were bored, you didn't doom-scroll. You walked into the kitchen, picked up a corded phone, and twirled away while dialing a friend's number.

If their dad answered, you had to summon your courage. "Hello, Mr. Johnson, is Dave home?"

You had to speak politely and navigate a “gatekeeper” to reach your goal. Sometimes, you were disappointed (“Sorry, Greg. He’s not here right now”). But when you did get through, you caught up, made plans, and strengthened a bond using nothing but your voice.

Today, most kids never get to practice that loop. In an effort to protect them from social media and dopamine overdrive, we have deprived them of the opportunity to build valuable social muscles. 

This week, we are exploring a radical, growing trend that elegantly solves this problem: Bringing back the land line.

We sat down with Chet Kittelson, co-founder of Tin Can, to talk about how his company is reinventing the home phone for kids of this generation. 

We discuss why giving children a voice-only device is a master move in building family culture—giving them agency without the algorithm.

And, along the way, we explore what it’s like for Chet as a husband, father, and son to be the founder of a fast-growing company that is deeply connected to his family values. 

This isn't about nostalgia. It’s about recognizing that communication is a skill, and finding a way to bring back that opportunity to our kids. 

👇 Listen to the episode:

TMIT 40: Why Your Family Needs a Landline (It's Not Just Nostalgia) with Chet Kittleson of Tin Can
Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Buh-bye,
Danielle & Greg

Last week had a different flavor of phone talk

And here are 3 AI tools we’re using at home

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