Don’t constrict the development process of teenagers
23 December 2007I don’t have a great knowledge of history but I’m reasonably certain neither Abraham Lincoln’s nor Bill Gates’ parents went snooping after them. They are I’m sure you’ll agree, people whom we look upon as role models.
Have you ever seen an elephant mother supervising her offspring after it has learnt the basics of existence? No, no, I’m in no way denigrating or dragging you to the level of an animal. But we don’t have drug addicted elephants, or, for that matter, elephants who commit criminal acts against other elephants do we? Every species of the animal kingdom allow their juniors to grow up the tough way. So, why shouldn’t we?
You should appreciate that teenagers need their personal space and independence to work out their own social paradigms and associated dynamics. This is the only way they can mature and lead a meaningful life. We would as parents be doing a great harm if we stifle this maturing process with these electronic gizmos which are euphemistically termed teen tracking devices.
Let you teenage son/daughter grow up without feeling constricted. If you are handing him/her over the keys of the car make him/her aware of his/her responsibilities towards self and others on the road. Believe me, if you haven’t cut corners in parenting, he/she will never need a teen driver monitor to stay out of trouble.
If you thought you’ll be able to accurately monitor your teenaged son/daughter’s movements by installing a gps teen tracking in his/her vehicle then you couldn’t be farthest from truth. You have full faith in technology and the shrill advertisements of manufacturers of GPS tracking devices had made you really nervous about the safety and security of your child. Hence, you went for the device as if it was a magic wand which will shepherd your offspring and alert you if he/she deviated even slightly away from the norms of propriety you have set down for him/her.
You think you deserve to be congratulated? No, unfortunately one can only feel sorry for you. Do you know what this gps tracking device is? It is an electronic gadget based on satellite tracking which helps you to locate where your teen is and in some costlier models you can also find out the speed at which he/she is driving. But what benefit would you gain from that information? Obviously as a worried parent you will retort that your teenager will always be under supervision and parental control and what better can it be than that.
This is where you are going hopelessly off-track. You are not willing to accept that your teenager has matured enough to handle things on his/her own and it might be hazardous to let him/her be behind the wheel. If you feel so, don’t let him/her drive on his/her own, as simple as that. Why invite a tension and try to find ways to reduce it? That’s pretty ridiculous, isn’t it?
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