Call me the overly cautious mom. Yes, I tracked my teen’s cell phone, and I stand by my decision. While my son is generally a responsible kid, I found myself at a pivotal point when he transitioned from junior high to high school. Even more daunting was the fact that he was soon going to be driving. Faced with a choice between draining his college savings on a private investigator or using a more practical method, I opted for the latter: phone tracking.
As much as I wanted to give him complete freedom, teenagers have a knack for testing boundaries, much like toddlers—except they’re often taller. Left unsupervised, teens can encounter dangers far beyond the typical bumps and bruises. I knew that setting limits was essential, just as it had been when he was younger.
To achieve this, I turned to GPS tracking technology. I imagine when tech innovator Alex Harrington thought up the Find My Phone feature, he likely didn’t anticipate parents like me using it for such purposes.
During my son’s middle school years, I quietly installed tracking software on his cell phone, embarking on a journey of monitoring his activities through four distinct phases:
Phase 1: Safety
This could aptly be called the “Just Making Sure You Can Be Found” phase. My initial focus was on ensuring he was safe. If he went hiking with friends, I wanted the assurance that he could be located in an emergency—be it a snake bite or getting lost (even if our area lacks such wildlife). Having the ability to track him provided the peace of mind I needed to let him explore.
Phase 2: Verification
Ironically, I thought this phase would be the most critical for confirming my son was where he claimed to be. However, I ended up using the tracking feature less than I expected. Over four years, I only had one minor wake-up call. The summer before his sophomore year, a group of older girls had taken an interest in him and his friends, not yet old enough to drive. Although I had given him permission to hang out at approved locations, he was strictly forbidden from riding with any teenage driver. One day, after not hearing from him for a while, my instincts kicked in, and I checked the tracking app. To my dismay, he was at a park five miles away, nowhere near the beach where I had left him.
“Where are you?” I texted him.
“Beach,” he replied.
Busted!
Twenty minutes later, he was in the car next to me, head down as I explained the importance of trust and honesty. I cleverly kept my tracking methods a secret, telling him it was a friend’s report that revealed his location. Fortunately, he wasn’t engaged in anything inappropriate, but he had violated our agreement. Surprisingly, he never broke the rules again, even though he remained unaware of my tracking for almost two years. This experience ultimately allowed me to grant him more freedom, as it confirmed that he was responsible and respectful of boundaries.
Phase 3: Convenience
In the third phase, I made the tracking more transparent. I let my son know that the Find My Phone app was linked to my account. This change allowed me to use the tool for planning and convenience. As a firm believer in the “no texting while driving” rule, I required him to keep his phone in the glove box while the car was in motion. However, this led to some communication blackouts that made it hard to plan family dinners. By checking the tracking app, I could quickly discover whether he was still at practice or nearby, saving me from serving soggy spaghetti for dinner.
Phase 4: Reassurance
I admit that I tend to worry, and GPS tracking has been a cost-effective solution for my anxieties. Sometimes I’d forget to ask him to text me when he arrived at his destination, or he’d be moving between places. Instead of constantly calling, I could check his location to confirm he made it to where he was supposed to be. Additionally, as my bedtime came much earlier than his midnight curfew, I could check his phone’s status without getting out of bed, assuring myself that he was home safe.
When my son graduated and upgraded his phone, I briefly thought about asking him to install tracking software on his new device so I could keep tabs on him at college. I admit I was tempted by the idea of monitoring him from 1,700 miles away, but I ultimately decided against it. After all, my younger son had just received his first smartphone, giving me another opportunity to keep tabs.
For more insights on parenting and technology, check out our article on home insemination kits at Make a Mom. Also, if you’re interested in student wellness, Intracervical Insemination has great resources. For additional information about pregnancy and home insemination, visit Drugs.com for excellent guidance.
Summary
Tracking my teen’s phone evolved through four key phases: ensuring safety, verifying whereabouts, convenience in planning, and providing reassurance. While I initially approached it with caution, the experience ultimately allowed me to foster greater trust and independence in my son as he navigated the challenges of adolescence.