Resisting temptation

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Your teenage daughter pays you a visit at work and leaves her mobile phone behind. What would you do?

[lvpets2002]

Well of course call her from her cell phone & say guess what!! I think you could sneak into the address book first & message board too..

[Miss Z]

Eek! I'd never want my mum to look at my messages!

[buttercup132]

Leave it. I would be SO mad if my mom went through my messages.

[Freedom]

You forgot one option on the poll: hold onto it and post the question to all your buddies from an on line pet forum.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

You forgot one option on the poll: hold onto it and post the question to all your buddies from an on line pet forum.

Lol!!! I did go for option 3 but couldn't help wondering what you would all do

[Twisterdog]

I think it would be interesting if everyone had put their ages on their responses to this as well. I'm guessing we would see a clear split down age lines!

When I was a teenager (moot point, really, since we rode dinasaurs to school and did not have cell phones) I would have said "NO! Don't look! It's an invasion of privacy!"

However, now that I have teenagers ... you bet I would snoop! Well, let me add a caveat to that - I would snoop if I felt there was a problem. If I thought (and I have) that my teenagers were doing things that could harm them or others, then oh YES, I will snoop. I have gone through their rooms, their phones, their notes, etc.

For one reason, if something IS going on, and I can find out about it and intervene sooner rather than later, I might be saving my child from a lot of pain and suffering. I also might be saving my child's life, or the life of another. For example, if I thought my child was drinking, doing drugs, having unprotected sex, etc. I would most definately snoop for a hint one way or another. I'd MUCH rather have them mad at me for a few weeks than in jail or in a coffin.

I always think about the Columbine shooting when I hear debates like this. I remember reading that the boy who shot and killed his classmates had glaring hints and clues all over his room as to what he was planning on doing specifically, and just that he was a very disturbed boy in need of serious help. His parents, however, said they had no idea, since they never "snooped" in his room, for fear of violating his privacy. Maybe it they would have, he could have gotten help, and many lives would have been spared.

My kids are very familar with statements like, "It may be 'your' room, but it's MY house." or "It may be 'your' phone, but it's MY money that pays the bill." etc. And that is indeed how I feel. As the parent of a minor, I am legally and financially responsible for them until they are eighteen. If I have to shoulder that immense responsibility, I have some rights to information.

[lute]

I would look at it. A parent has the right to check up on their children. Kids don't always tell the truth and they could be in some real danger if not researched into what they are doing. Sometimes it's not always best to tell them you are snooping. Only if you catch them at something bad.