If you have never checked your kid's cell phone messages, history or voicemail, or internet history, you should. In this technologically advanced time, kids are catching on to the tricks and clicks that erase their communication tracks.

When spouses are cheating or engaging in behaviors that they do not want anyone to find out about, what do they do? They erase phone calls, emails, text messages and begin to stay away from home longer than they had previously.

Bullying is not just about lunch money anymore.

When I was in school bullies were the mean kids on the blacktop. They were the ones waiting after school to beat up on another kid that was usually no match for their size and strength. But there was at least a "safe zone" from school bullies: Home.

Today, running home and shutting out the bullying happening at school isn't an option because bullies are popping up on the internet faster than ever.

Some parents believe social networking sites can help kids become successful adults. These actual or perceived benefits of social networking sites are the recent topic of a study that asked parents: how important are social networking sites to your kids?

In this order, here are the areas that topped the list of reasons why parents believe online social networking is important:

1.

Hillary Clinton's camp came up with an impressive Internet Safety Guide that no one really knows about. Why isn't she isn't talking about it?

Barack Obama lists the topic of Internet safety for our children and families as one of importance in his technology issues section of his official website, while John McCain states, Children are our most valuable asset in his protecting kids from internet pornography and sexual predators section of his official website.

Who are your child's role models? Whether you realize it or not, the number one role model in your kids' life is you. Nearly half of all young women look to their mothers as their role model and 46 percent of teens say their role model is a family member, not a pop icon or sports star. Adolescents who have positive parental role models are more likely to do well in school and have higher self-esteem; they also are less likely to abuse substances or become involved in abusive relationships or inappropriate online behaviors.