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I am a 27 year old woman,(mother of a 17 month old) I stand at 4 feet 11 1/2 inches tall and weigh in at 103lbs. I am mistaken for a teenager at least 3-5 times a day! So I see how teens get treated, on their level. I totally understand why adults aren't getting the respect we expect or think we deserve. "You only get what you give" and if you look at every teen as a trouble maker, with disgust or fear on your face, they will look at you as just another cranky old person. THEY SEE it, they're not stupid! And believe it or not mistaking a teen(or anybody for that matter) for something they're not(trouble maker) is enough to cause them to look at you with disgust on their face and disrespect out of their mouths!

Instead, try looking them in the eye and smiling when you are approaching a group of teens. Maybe even say hello, with a smile ! You will be amazed at the response you will get from them. You'll both walk away from each other, with a bit more respect for the other's generation.

This afternoon I put my son down for his nap, and decided to do the same. I was only laying down for 10 minutes when I heard a bunch of voices outside my bed room window. I looked out just to see, (at first glance) 6 teens throwing things at each other, screaming and running around. So I crawled back into my bed. A few minutes later they got a bit louder and I could hear this odd thud on the wall on the out side. So I got up and looked out for a second time. Two of the boys were throwing this huge stick from the tree up against our building. I stood in the window until I was noticed. Then I heard one say" you almost put out a window, and there's a lady watching us in that window. She's going to call the cops on us man." They looked a bit worried and looked as they if were scrambling to get out of there. So I opened the window and said" Don't worry guys I'm not going to call the cops, I was just wondering what that noise was, and then smiled. One of the boys looked up at me in the window and said "oh I thought you'd call the cops, My name's joe, nice to meet you." He smiled and waved, then we both went back to what we were doing. All six of those kids saw my face and I can bet the next time we cross paths they will say hello, as will I. I WILL BE ABLE TO FEEL SAFE. If you'd like to feel a little safer walking through your neighbour hood, recognize the kids and acknowledge them when you see them. You don't have to make small talk or anything, just a

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