How Much Privacy Is Your Child entitiled to?

I'm sorry if this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I think that you were wrong. A journal is an outward expression of inward thoughts that are for the writer only. I wish that you could have just asked him if there was anything that he wanted to share with you. At 16 he is almost a man and will soon be off to university. Unless you suspect illegal activities, then snooping is unfair. It can damage a relationship for a long time.

well today for a parent to say they don,t know is no excuse i feel if you think something is going on with your child and they will not talk about it then as you did become you read his diary. i did my son this way before because he was getting in so much trouble.thats your house i dont require doors to be locked in my house when he get his on he can lock door. he is still under age you are reponsible for him as long as he is under age.

if your son gets to know that you have read his journal, he might lose the confidence and trust that he has in you. If I were you I would try to ask him directly what's his problem is. One always have to keep in mind that there is a always the age gap and that kids do keep certain "secrets" from their parents whom they share with their friends. We did that when we were young, I don't wonder that our kids will do it as well. Right now my son is only 8 years old. I do read his email to check with whom he is in contact with.

your really worried about his welfare i get that but that doesn't mean you're entitled to read his journal even if all you want is to care for him or to support him... you should have just waited for him to open up himself to you with what you did and if he finds out that'll give you a minus point on his trust to you.... when i was a teenagaer i also kept a journal of my life which i still do and it's really disappointing and it ticks me off when somebody invades my privacy so i really do know what he'll feel if he ever find out

i do not have a child now, because i am still a student.haha.ut in my opinion, we should let the children have pricacy, but too much privacy is not so good. this will make the children find a very good cause to reject the parents' education.

Look, speaking as a 24 year old, who has no kids, and remembers her teenage years very well, you played the part of a concerned parent, and what he doesn't know isn't going to hurt him. Don't beat yourself up over it.

Shame on you, mom. I have to say that I completely disagree with reading a child's diary or journal. That is sacred territory! My girl's all knew they could leave their journals out and in the open and I would never touch them and I never did. Was I tempted? oh you bet. Now that it is done, let's hope your son never finds out and don't do it again. A better way and a way that may bring you closer to him would be to tell him what you heard and put the offer out there that you are there for him if he needs to talk. live & learn.