Looking For Signs Of Trouble In Our Teens

I was recently accused of being a paranoid parent and not respecting my son’s privacy. I’m not going to lie. We do occasionally skim the kids room. I sometimes help them put away their laundry just to be nosy. We have tracking software on their computers (which I rarely check). We trust our kids, but sometimes we just want to make sure we should trust them. And usually all is good.

I’m happy to say (and brag) that our teens are both very good boys. We have the usual teen problems when it comes to chores and schoolwork, but when it comes to the big issues (sex, drugs and rock and roll alcohol) they have made the right decisions…so far.

I have always said there is a fine line between trusting your kids and giving them their space to make their own decisions. Sometimes parents need to step in. Not just to protect their child, but to also protect other people.

One family in South Carolina experienced this first hand this weekend. The parents of a smart and trouble-free (or so they thought) high school senior called the police on their son when 10 pound of ammonium nitrate was delivered to their house. They searched their sons room and found a journal in that outlined a scheme to blow up his school. In his journal he also praised the attackers of the Columbine tragedy.

Because these parents searched their son’s room, they may have saved several lives.

I don’t recommend never giving your teen their privacy and never allowing them to make their own decisions, but I do recommend keeping your eyes open and staying involved in your child’s life. Most of the times the clues won’t be as obvious as 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate being delivered to your home.