Situations such as this are always bad for the child but you must protect them and nurture them at ALL Costs.

They really should not grow up to hate anyone but grow in character and strength to understand why people behave as they do.

Thus giving them a better understanding of life and all around security in their own life.

But let's not forget you can buy a trac phone for $15 at Walmart and charge it for $20.

I am dirt poor but I still have enough for that for a child.

Yabbut, most 10-year-olds don't need a phone. Nowadays people want to be able to keep in contact with their children and want the child have a phone in an emergency, so depending on the situation, maybe 12 isn't too young.

So what's next? Mom promises to buy him a car and take him for a round the world trip, so they have to fork out for that, too?

You do a child no favor by coddling him his entire life. Yes, they should try to make these disappointments less, but that doesn't mean their lives should be dictated by the mother's latest whim; especially since it may well be the phone was something he demanded, since Dad said he couldn't have one.

By teaching him he can get anything he wants by making Mom promise it and making Dad pay for it, you are not building character, nor encouraging it in his mother.

10 year olds with phones????? RIDICULOUS!!!!!! That said, make his MOTHER break it to him. Kids get let down, sure, BUT if it is handled correctly, the child will look back on this later in life and be glad his family were HONEST with him.