I Had No Privacy And I'm Okay With It

Growing up, many teenagers demand privacy. I did, but I didn't get it. My parents knew everything I was doing and everything about me. I had no secrets, and I’m very thankful for that.

        My parents were strict and I resented them for it for a long time, but the older I have gotten I’m very thankful for their strictness. Growing up, my parents had the usernames and passwords to all my social media; Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc. Nothing I liked, commented on, or messaged others was a secret. My parents knew the password to my phone at all times, and if they didn't well then I had better tell them or my phone was gone for weeks. They read my text messages any time of the day and checked all my phone records. They even put a tracker on my phone so that when I went out to town or somewhere with friends they knew where I was at all times. They told me that there was a tracker on my phone and so I had better tell them the truth, and if I didn't answer my phone then it was gone for a long, long time.

        Okay, enough with the phone… When I turned 16 and got a vehicle that was another “no privacy” item. I did not lock my car when I was home unless the keys were hanging on the key rack in the house. My parents could go invade and inspect my vehicle anytime they wanted to and if I tried to keep them out of it, well I didn't have a vehicle…and I knew that would suck. My room was inspected anytime they felt necessary or anytime they just wanted to look in it. They always told me that they paid the bills and put me in it and if they wanted to look in my things then they absolutely would.

        I always wanted a tattoo and maybe even a belly button ring. Well, I don’t anymore, but I used to. But I knew I could never get one because there were no locked doors in my house and my mom would barge in on me in the bathroom or getting ready all the time and I knew that I could not keep anything like that a secret. They never let me have any of those things and I am so grateful for that because now that I have gotten older I realize how I really don't like tattoos and belly button rings and that I would regret them greatly now a days.

        I have so much respect for my parents. I didn't dare get in trouble at school because then I was in worse trouble at home. I graduated high school and had never had a detention! I look back on my childhood and teenage years, and I am thankful. I will raise my children exactly the same way because it is all out of love. When a young person gets in trouble with their parents, it is out of love and care. When an adult gets in trouble, it’s not the loving parents they deal with…it’s the law, and the law doesn't care who they are or how they feel. As a young adult, I follow the rules, I respect everyone, and I don’t dare go against the law because I am terrified to get in trouble.

        My parents being strict taught me respect and love. They taught me that everything you do has a repercussion, so make it a good one. They have saved me from many bad boys, bad friends, and situations and I will do the same for my children. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for being strict and not letting me have privacy. Well besides showering and such J