Is it normal that i have never had a phone???

Well, your Mom is possibly being "too" overbearing, in that you may be in a real emergency situation one day and need one. Although I understand that some parents believe, or hope, they're helping by removing "technology products", that consume some people, like an ipad/tablet/smart phone, a basic phone is different, in my opinion; there are many different plans and types of phones she can purchase, that are not so "attention" consuming and such a distraction.

You should explain that there are phones that are mainly intended for making calls, lack adequate data for internet use and she can limit how many texts you can send and receive, if she really wants. Dinosaur phones (flip phone) or pay as you go, they still exist. My Dad has one.

Ultimately, you are 18, you are an adult now and can decide a phone is necessity. If you can get a phone, you can do this on your own time and refrain from using it, in front of her. Unless you lack funds to pay for it, or respect her wishes. This being why you should explain the options of different plans/phones.

I don't believe anyone should be without a cell phone, these days. Only because of emergency situations.

It is not abnormal, I didn't have my first "real cell phone" until 21. Which brings back memories of my first attempt at having a cell phone, at 17. My parents bought me the "Razr" when it was the hottest thing out, but my parents had me on a plan that had so many limits, I unknowingly ranked up a bill of $750 in one month. That was the end of that phone. I still have it, for nostalgia sake. I went years without one, ultimately getting a Blackberry for my 21st birthday. Which is dinosaur-like, now to others, but I prefer it to my upgraded Windows Phone.

I don't think that's very normal (common), nowadays, no.