Anonymous wrote:Can people not see how these apps make people more anxious, not less? We use these technologies and come to think they are necessary. Which leads to the feeling that situations aren't safe without the technologies. Which, ironically, makes us feel less safe (and in need of monitoring) in the world. Then what happens when DS leaves his phone in his school locker? You panic.
Anonymous wrote:Life360
Anonymous wrote:Yes - doing something I told him to do does teach responsibility, as does keeping family posted about where you are.
That is a skill that I will require if he wants more freedom. Do you want to go to the mall with your friends? OK, but only if you let me know when you arrive and when you plan to get home.
I expect my older DS to keep me posted about his plans and my husband to let me know when he has a change of plans. That's common courtesy and I want both of my kids to learn that courtesy.
Anonymous wrote:Right!! I don't know how to paste the person I am responding to-- it in the PP that requires my kid to text when he arrives at practice
And I don't track- I want him to manage it and let me know on his own. If he doesn't then I can call him or whatever but I don't track.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes - doing something I told him to do does teach responsibility, as does keeping family posted about where you are.
That is a skill that I will require if he wants more freedom. Do you want to go to the mall with your friends? OK, but only if you let me know when you arrive and when you plan to get home.
I expect my older DS to keep me posted about his plans and my husband to let me know when he has a change of plans. That's common courtesy and I want both of my kids to learn that courtesy.
...and this was a courtesy/skill my parents expected of me 40 years ago. Amazing what was accomplished without tracking apps.
Anonymous wrote:Life360
Anonymous wrote:Yes - doing something I told him to do does teach responsibility, as does keeping family posted about where you are.
That is a skill that I will require if he wants more freedom. Do you want to go to the mall with your friends? OK, but only if you let me know when you arrive and when you plan to get home.
I expect my older DS to keep me posted about his plans and my husband to let me know when he has a change of plans. That's common courtesy and I want both of my kids to learn that courtesy.
Anonymous wrote:It's not risky - but it's probably a 15 minute walk and I feel better if I know he arrived. It also teaches responsibility - you should call me when you arrive.
Would it be better if I just tracked his phone? I don't think that teaches him anything. Or that I drove to pick him up and drive him half a mile? I also don't think that teaches him anything.
So, I'm teaching him independence and also responsibility. I think it's one of my better parenting decisions, actually.
Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP. We have a similar situation. My 13 year old walks from school to sports practice and he is supposed to call me when he arrives. I would say he is 75%. On times he doesn't call me, I call them and make sure he is there. He is getting better. But I don't track his phone --- I just know when to expect the call and if he doesn't do it, I have to follow up.
Anonymous wrote:We've been using Find Friends for a number of years. DS is 16. He takes the metro to school (MD to DC).
But it really isn't just about safety. It is truly a convenience. If I have to pick up DS at metro, I can see where he is on the line so I can plan my trip to the station. I also like knowing where my husband is...so I don't have to call him and ask when he will be home. I just check it to see where he is on his commute.
Those of you who think it is creepy are probably creepy already. I don't see anything creepy about it, unless you have a stalker mentality.