Have you gone thru your teenager's belongings?

As a mother of 3, one of which is 21, 17, and 15.I have learned over the years not to go through their belongings.If you go into their room snooping(and they know we do it), then you are liable to find anything.I tried that with my oldest when she was 15(6 years ago) and she deliberately left things laying out and would write her friends phony nites saying she done this and she done that only to send my blood presssure boiling. In fact, the majority of it was bull because I kept a tight rope on her and had to know every move she made.So when a note cam sbout that she snuck out and did something, it was kind of funny because I was usually up all night and I knew that wasn't possible and her windows were screwed shut from the outside (she didn't know it). So, I knew it wasn't possible to sneak out unless she walked right past me to do so. Then there is the food they place under their beds that stirs up the awful aroma when not taken care of. We don't want our children snooping through our rooms therefore we have to show the same courtesy. With a teenager, you can ttust but don't trust too much. If you give them enough rope, they usually hang themselves. Talk with them, ask them about their day, ask them what's going on in their world. But, first and foremost, remember when you were a teen and you hated things your parents did with you. It is s time in their life when you have to get down on their level and realize that they aren't babies anymore. And, if you find a note of theirs doing laundry, its free game, read it and go from there.

well, my son is way too young for me to answer that one still, but i know for a fact that my mom would go through my room. yeah, it bothered me, i felt like i couldnt keep anything personal, but at the same time, its her house, so i dont have the right to tell her to stay out of my room. anyway, its not like i was hiding anything i wasnt supposed to be. when i say my personal stuff, i mean, that i couldnt keep a diary, or notes from friends. i didnt want her to know every little thing that i talked about with my girl freinds. even though i still look back at it and think it wasnt fair, i think it was a good thing my mom did it. i think i might do the same to my kids. it can only keep them out of trouble that doesnt need to be there.

Dont have a teenager yet, but when I was one my parents did go through my stuff and at the time I was pissed but now looking back i see why they did it.