My family never misses an opportunity to tease my husband and me about a new app we’ve added to our cell phones. I don’t like to call it a tracking device per say, but it does provide us with the details of each other’s whereabouts, if ever we need them.
We have always been the type of couple to “check in” anyway. Whenever either of us is hanging out with friends and will be out late, we make sure to call so the other spouse knows we’ve made it safely to our destination. Even when I am set to return home I call my husband again to let him know when to expect my arrival. Sharing this information provides a sense of security for me. His knowing when I should make it back home lets him know to follow up if I don’t return within a certain time frame. Well, this new app accomplishes even more than that. We have it installed on not just our cell phones, but also our teenage daughter’s. We are able to not only track the locations, but also see the sex offenders in the area. So, if I am driving home late and God forbid something happens to me, my husband will be able to track exactly where I am and take immediate action.
My relatives often crack jokes and label our app as “stalking” software, nevertheless I find great value in this little tool. They have said they don’t need nor want their spouse to have knowledge of their every move. What they don’t realize is this isn’t a system we use every minute of every day and more importantly neither of us have anything to hide. If he wanted to, my husband could track my every step; I am never anyplace he doesn’t already know I am going to. In my opinion it is simply a modernized version of “checking in” with your spouse.
My loved ones’ reaction made me curious about other couples’ opinions. I found that there are a few friends who do feel the need to “check-in” with their spouse and find this app very useful. While there are still those others who cringe at the idea of their spouse having that much insight or information into their lives. They want to maintain a certain level of independence. For me, my husband knowing where I am doesn’t affect my independence at all, it does, however, create security and confirms the level of trust we share.
It is a personal preference and works for some. I can say that ours works well for us.
BMWK, what are your thoughts on checking in and the use of tracking applications in your relationship?