No matter what their ages are, as parents, we all want what is best for our children. That being said, many of us can sometimes take things a bit too far when we are trying to keep our kids safe and protected. Although we may want to be there to cure every illness, tend to every bump and bruise, and heal all broken hearts, the bottom line is that at some point, we also have to learn to let go.
The line between protecting our children and smothering them can often become blurred if we aren't careful. In today's world, increasingly advanced technology is beginning to provoke questions that parents may have never had to ask themselves before. Is it "ok" to check our children's Internet history? Should I create my own Facebook or MySpace profile in order to be able to monitor my child's social networking websites? If I use a GPS system on my child's mobile phone or car, is it appropriate monitoring or stalking?
These questions may seem outlandish to some, but many parents do consider both sides of these controversial questions in an attempt to ensure that they are doing everything possible to keep their children safe. If a teenager is involved in dangerous or illegal activities, is it not the parents' responsibility to intervene and put a stop to the destructive behavior before it is too late?
Many parents have found that they can have a GPS system installed into their teen's cars. The car is then monitored and can be tracked from an online service where parents can input their username and passwords, login, and check to see whether Junior's car is really parked at the mall, or whether he is somewhere else. Some parents may feel that this new form of technology is a godsend. With a GPS, they can know whether their daughter is on her way home, whether she has been in an accident, or whether she is lying bout her whereabouts.
The problem, however, is whether or not these GPS systems invade our children's personal privacy. Teaching our children about personal privacy also teaches them about the importance of having boundaries. Without knowledge of these boundaries, especially those boundaries that surround an individual's personal privacy, your child may grow up to become invasive and manipulative. Adults with no regard for personal privacy are often extremely intrusive in their partners' and friends' lives.
Furthermore, teaching children about privacy also helps them develop an understanding for concepts concerning honesty, integrity, and trust. If a child becomes an adult with no sense of integrity or no idea about how important honesty is to developing trust between two people (in any relationship familial, romantic, or professional), then you must ask yourself what kind of child you are raising.
Although it is understandable for parents to be concerned about their children's whereabouts, I feel that it is more important for parents to focus on communication skills between themselves and their children in order to ensure that their kids are learning about the important values that will one day make the upstanding citizens. If you really want to ensure that your child is making good decisions, spend your time teaching them the difference between "right" and "wrong." Listen to them free from judgment, provide a safe and caring environment for them, and be as supportive as you can be and ultimately you and your child will develop a bond and a style of communication that will allow for them to come to you with any problems, rather than attempt to lie to you to the point that you feel that you must "track" them with GPS systems.