In my last two blogs, I have been discussing the issue of parents spying on their children and how Facebook is a popular way to do this. But spying can still be done the old-fashioned way.
Back in the day I remember that my parents’ version of spying including listening in on my phone calls (although this only works if your children actually use a landline phone) and going through my bedroom.
Yes, I am a fan of going through my children’s bedrooms. In fact, one day I spent two hours not just looking through my son’s bedroom—but combing it. I mean, I was pretty convinced by the time I was done that I would have made a good detective.
Nothing was left unturned. In fact, I even went through every single page of his books (never know what could be stashed in between pages) and through every drawer. Nothing was safe from me.
Why did I do this? Was I expecting to find something? Not necessarily. In fact, of all my children, this was the one I would least expect to find something. At that particular time I didn’t. Yes, I was relieved but I never let my guard down.
Now there have been times when I have found things…mostly things that were written. I never went to my children and told them what I found. They would have been horrified to know that I had read them. Instead, I did what I have always done…I prayed. I am a praying mom and so I take any concerns I have to God.
The only reason I would ever confront one of my children on something I found is if it was something truly dangerous or if it was illegal. But spying has allowed me the opportunity to learn things about my children that I would not have otherwise known.
Some parents think this is an intrusion of their privacy. I personally think that as long as they live under my roof and don’t pay rent, their privacy has limits.
Not only do I spy in their bedrooms but I look through their backpacks. However, I don’t do any of this on a regular basis. Sometimes I just get a sense that I need to do it, or it has been so long since the last time I figure it’s overdue.
What do you think about this kind of spying? Do you think it’s too much or do you go just as far?
Related Articles:
Resisting the Urge to Interfere
Photo by normanack in Flickr