My mother tried this crap on me. She thought she was keeping tabs on me.

Instead, she taught me how to hide things from her, that I shouldn’t trust her, how to leave my phone at home and not be tracked, and how to hide from her.

Ironic thing was that I didn’t drink or do drugs until 21, but she was so paranoid that she never believed me. But now, 20 years later, the trust is still ruined and our relationship never repaired.

Parents, I know you want to make sure kids are safe, but teenagers are figuring out who they are. Make them want to talk to you, not want to hide even more from you.