This is an issue I know many of us struggle with. Our kids with phones, Facebook and Twitter accounts. . .do we openly "follow" them. . .do we secretly "stalk" them. . .do we openly read their texts or posts and discuss with them???
This is our opinion, and we would love to hear yours, either way.
We have always required our kids to provide us with their passwords, so that at any given time, we have the ability to see what they are posting and learn a little more about the "friends" they are spending time with. We don't technically follow them, but we do openly "stalk" them, so if need be, and pretty rarely, we can discuss things we see that we feel are of the most importance. Are they happy about that? Of course not! But it is such a valuable parenting tool. So how do we explain it and justify it, so to speak, without jeopardizing a healthy relationship with our kids?
We have told our kids that our primary purpose at this time is raising them to honor God. As their parents, it is our responsibility to know who and what is currently influencing their thoughts and decisions, and therefore, to really have a good feel for their values and those of the friends they are spending time with. They don't necessarily like that, but I think they do understand, most of the time.
Every night at dinner, we pray as a family for hearts to honor and please God in everything we do. Everything. Every thought, word, action; every penny we spend. . .to honor God in some way, and certainly not to dishonor Him in any way. And we mean that. And if we mean that, and our primary purpose is raising our kids, and they are living under our roof and using tools we provide for them, then we need to have a measuring stick - a way to put our money where our mouth is.
Does this make sense? Is there a better way?
"...They will be called oaks or righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor." -Isaiah 61:3
