Watch4 LTE - no texts

I had the deluded idea that the watch was a standalone device, but it seems directly dependent on the phone.  It is not clear in my mind if it is entirely dependent on bluetooth and proximity to the phone or not. Or if the phone itself needs to be left "on" if you leave it at home.  

If it can receive an 4G LTE signal, connect with the network, then piggyback on its connection to the phone, then it could be a useful device.  Mostly it seems from what I have read in reviews in various places, parents want the watches to keep track of their kids. I am deciding whether to keep the SS watch 4 I just received.