Teenagers today are just the same as they have been over the past thirty years.
They listen to loud music, they love to dance, they go to concerts, movies, and date.
Life always comes full circle. The main difference today, is that teenagers are
smarter than we were. "Straight edge", is a new concept that a lot of teens are
embracing today. Essentially, it means, "No smoking, no drinking, no drugs, and no
pre-marital sex. That sounds smarter than we were, doesn't it?

My son and his friends are always at our home. Most of them even call me mom. These

kids are good and it really upsets me when all you hear about are the ones who get into trouble. There are good "straight edge" teen out there and you don't have to
look far. You just have to take your blinders off. Look past the piercings, tattoos, and long hair. Don't judge them by what they have on. Look into their hearts and minds. These kids are smart. They can text someone on the phone and never even look at the keyboard. They can take apart a computer with their eyes
closed and put it back together. They have hearts of gold and will go out of their way to help someone in need.

I wish I could say that people who think teens are bad, are older people, like it was when we were younger, but it isn't. Most of these people are parents of teens. It amazes me that these parents are raising "straight edge" teens, and they don't realize just how lucky they are. My son has some friends that have been kicked out of their homes at different times along the way, for silly things. Such as, getting a C on a test, arguing with their parents over their clothes, or even having a spat with a sibling. These are some of the reasons my circle of teens came to stay with us until their parents let them come home. Teens and parents are going to have disagreements, that is just nature. But to kick your 15 or 16 year old out is not the answer.

I am just proud to know a great bunch of teens. These kids would lay down their lives for someone they love or a cause they believe in. I had a lot of friends growing up that got hooked on drugs, had sex before they were 14 and drank like a fish. These kids have seen our mistakes and learned from them. Just give them a chance. They might surprise you. The next time your teen comes in the door, sit down and have a conversation with them. Let them know they are loved and find out where they stand on certain issues. Let them know you are proud of them. Adopt a teen and see just how wonderful they really are.

Learn more about this author, Beth Huckaby.
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