Yes mimi, I actually read an article about adolescence, yes sad but true I love to research psychosocial development , and the brain during that period is hardwired to take risks. I will get super anxious and stressed if I don't think logically and realistically about this subject in terms of what I can control and what I can't and what I can do to help my kids and at what point I have to loosen the reigns a little to allow them to make confident independent choices for themselves and grow up knowing that I trust them and respect them. This will no doubt include times when everything goes tits up, but I can only hope that what I teach my kids serves them well to deal with the downs. It is such a hard time learning to find a happy medium.

I never had a cell phone or internet in my childhood....even with all the headlines that should have scared me, I had no issue apparently with getting myself into risky situations. I was a good kid, but fell victim to my circumstances when I entered the care system at age 13 and within a couple of weeks was pulled to one side by a caregiver who talked to me about the realities of forming unhealthy attachments to people. I would be tactile and clingy to men, most likely as a result of the neglect I had been subjected to via my own family. At this point I was more aware of this but still got drawn in very easily particularly by males of any age, who treated me nicely. Typically I didn't even know these people from a stranger on the street. It wasn't hard to gain my trust and condition me. I know I am lucky to be alive after all the situations I have either got myself into or found myself in. While this IS different, my point is I think all these experiences have served me well so far in my perspective as a parent and fortunately I am well aware of what can go on and regularly reflect on the past and count my blessings.

Now with the internet, there is so much that can go on without us seeing it even with being extra vigelant. I think that's why as well as having boundaries and rules for safe use of technology, it is equally as important to educate children from an early age on the whys and wheres of the risks of internet use so they can be as best equipped as possible when faced with a tricky situation.