The Right to Privacy

While not guaranteed by the Constitution, the right to privacy is a generally accepted tenet of our culture. Privacy may be thought of as actual or implied boundaries that seclude us and our possessions from others. We then selectively choose the degree to which others may acquire access to our domain.

One of the advantages to home ownership is the assurance of a reasonably high degree of privacy. Privacy affords us the freedom to say or do anything in our homes that is not otherwise unlawful. With the return of an adult child to one's home as a resident, privacy is diminished for both the parents and child.

Privacy, as I see it, includes the right to speak and not be overheard while expressing a personal opinion. The amount of time I now use moving covertly through the house to ascertain whether or not my son is present--an act made necessary because he is like a moving target, home one minute and gone the next--is a waste of my time. I do this so that he does not overhear conversations that may be about him.

Privacy is much like Honesty; it becomes most conspicuous when absent. Who knew it would have been wise to counsel our son on the degree of privacy The Girlfriend would be expected to afford us? The day she stormed into our home screaming angrily as she made her way to our son's room will not likely be forgotten. Or repeated.

Providing my son with a roof over his head had an unintended consequence: the loss of privacy for all of us. Staying on guard to watch what we say while determining whether or not he is home is somewhat daunting. But we can live with this. At least for now.