Monitoring Your Teen

Whether or not apps such as Live 360 violates a child's trust depends on how it is used and the specific circumstances surrounding its use. Here are some considerations:

1. Parental Consent: If parents use Live 360 to monitor their child's activities, it is essential to have open communication and obtain their child's consent whenever possible, especially if the child is old enough to understand the concept. Transparency and consent can help maintain trust.

2. Privacy Boundaries: Parents must respect their child's privacy and set clear boundaries. Invading a child's privacy without justification can erode trust and lead to feelings of mistrust and resentment.

3. Safety Concerns: In some cases, Live 360 might be used to ensure a child's safety, such as monitoring their location or checking in on them in unfamiliar situations. In such cases, explaining the safety reasons for using the technology can help maintain trust.

4. Age and Independence: As children grow older and become more independent, their need for privacy and trust becomes more critical. Parents should adapt their use of Live 360 accordingly, allowing older children more autonomy and privacy.

5. Open Communication: Open and honest communication between parents and children is key to maintaining trust. Parents should explain why they are using Live 360, and how it works, and address any concerns or questions their child may have.

6. Monitoring vs. Surveillance: There is a distinction between monitoring and surveillance. Monitoring involves respectful and agreed-upon supervision, while surveillance may involve secretive or invasive practices. Trust can be compromised if Live 360 is used as a surveillance tool without consent.

In summary, Live 360 may not inherently violate a child's trust, but how it is used and the context in which it is applied can significantly impact trust dynamics within a family. It is crucial for parents to strike a balance between safety and privacy, maintain open communication, and respect their children's autonomy as they grow and develop. Trust is built on mutual understanding, respect, and transparency, and parents should ensure that their use of Live 360 aligns with these principles.

Nurturing Relationships

Summer days used to last forever...or so it seemed. These days, it seems like summer is never long enough. Weekends quickly get booked up with events with friends and family, and the demands of work are ever-present.

With so many things competing for time and attention during the summer, setting aside time to focus on relationships and spending time with one another is vital to a healthy relationship. Relationships need constant care and attention, hello!?!

Let’s face it, every relationship goes through highs and lows. They can be tough times or even just times when one or both people are just going through the motions. Wanting change? Easier said than done.

Try Something New can be a great starting point.

At a certain point in a relationship, it is easy to fall into routine. There’s nothing wrong with routine, but every now and again, it's necessary to get out of that routine and try something different.

This looks different for everyone. For some, getting out of a comfort zone could mean trying a new restaurant their partner heard about. For others, it could mean going to a foreign country where neither of them speak the native language.

Sharing these experiences with a loved one can help reignite the spark.

Time for Two & growing together.

Having kids—and sharing the bond of parenthood—can be an amazing thing! However, it’s so easy to get caught up in the daily details of running a household, dropping the kids off at school-practice-recital-games, and working {to name a few} that finding spare moments to nurture a relationship can be hard. Trust me, I get it.

That’s why scheduling time to work on the relationship is so vitally important. This can take on many forms. Sometimes it just means taking a day off and finding a sitter for the kids. For some people, it can be finding a summer camp where the kids can thrive while every night transforms into date night for Mom and Dad… Hoorray!

However the time is made, it will be time well-spent.  

In the end, growing together is a critical element of a strong relationship. It takes time and effort, but nurturing the relationship is most always, rewarding and bountiful.