DEAR ABBY: There is a difference between invading your children's privacy and noticing if they spend their free time building bombs in the garage. Violating their trust by searching their rooms without justification while they are absent is reprehensible.
A child's diary is a child's diary. In it, a child records innermost feelings and what other kids share in confidence. I'll bet "Mom" wouldn't appreciate it if her kids went through her most private things.
I feel sorry for the children of "Snoopy Mom." They have to spend every day with this callous, irrational, distrusting and insensitive person. She never should have had children if this is how she treats them.
I now realize how fortunate I am that my parents are intelligent enough to respect my privacy and, at the same time, steer me in the right direction. –- RATIONAL 15-YEAR-OLD, BAYSIDE, N.Y.
DEAR RATIONAL: Many teens echoed your feelings. Read on:
DEAR ABBY: Conspicuously absent from "Snoopy's" letter were comments on the result of her behavior -– the quality of her relationship with her children. It can't be very good, since her children are probably aware of her atrocious lack of trust, respect and common courtesy. I hope knowing every detail of her children's lives now will make up for this mother's being shut out of their lives when they're older –- JEANA L., AGE 19, IN OHIO