It's a hard pill to swallow. To think that the smart aleck teenage "punks" that run our streets today, are actually the people that will be making our laws tomorrow. When you think about it, as an adult reflecting on days past, the basic mind set, and the rebellious nature of the way we were, is really no different than the kids of today.

As parents, we need to listen to our children. We need to try to make sense of the hormone fueled ideas that come from our teenagers mouths. It's all of these ramblings, that will be converted into the rule of how we will be living our lives in years to come.

It's funny how life is. You're born into infancy. You grow from an infant child into a teenager, and then evolve into an adult. You become an adult and work and fight to fulfill your dreams and create a family of your own. Then if you are lucky, you retire. Then live the rest of your life, as your health wastes away, and then you die. The only time in your life that you can form your opinions, attitudes and core beliefs are when you are a teenager.

So, in summary, it's the teenage years that give us the energy and the drive to carry on. It's the ideas and beliefs formed in our teenage years that guide us down the path of life that we choose. Our world has seen many changes over the eons of time. Our life expectancy was only 40 years old less than 100 years ago. Think about it. We don't give our teens enough credit. The point is: the teenagers of today do not have nearly the responsibility of our forefathers did when they were in their teens.

Listen to your teenager and try your best to communicate with them. They are smarter than they look at this age. Do not criticize, but become interested in their passions. Ask questions, and you will learn. Your teen is constantly reaching out, and will love you for it.

If you still can't grasp what your teen is saying, it's time for a bit of professional help. Start with a few books written by people that have finally gained the knowledge of how to communicate with what most people would call an "Out of Control" Teenager.