I make it my business to stay up on what my children are doing. Especially so if they are living at home or on my dime. Sure I let them make their own mistakes, but I determine the cut-off from needed mistakes to gain experiences versus those with looming consequences.
Stuff like buying guns, smoking dope, making death threats, and getting kicked out of community college are pretty good examples.
What parent could be so disconnected from what their kid has been up to?
Is this really all that unusual? Really? Aren't most parents busy doing their "own thing" and too busy to have much idea of what their kids are up to?
I'm serious. Isn't that the new norm? Two working parents and the kids are left to pretty much fend for themselves. It certainly is the case when I look around.