As a parent, I'm extremely concerned with the direction our young people are taking. We read about problem kids in the local paper, see them on the news and say, "How terrible, I'm glad that's not my kid." More and more, we are seeing that it is our kid. Maybe not the one we brought into the world but, it is the one down the street, the one my kid is in scouts with, the one I see at church...they are ALL our kids and if we don't try to solve some of their problems as kids--they will become problem adults that society will be dealing with.

I'm not smart enough to have all the answers but, I can tell you that something needs to be done! Where do we start? Perhaps, we start at home with our own kids and spend more time talking and "listening" to them. As a teen, I remember thinking that my parents didn't understand me. The same is true today--even more than ever! Perhaps, we need to start asking the "hard" questions of our teens--"Where are you going? When will you return? Who are you going to be with?" It isn't a matter of interferring in their lives! It is simply a matter of caring enough to be concerned!

My daughter, who is now 23, used to ask me, "Dad, I'm almost an adult, why do I need to call and tell you where I am or where I'm going?" I explained to her that it is a matter of "courtesy" to a caring and loving parent. If something were to happen to her, at least we would have some idea of where to begin looking for her.

I know, some of you are thinking "He is a controlling father." Well, perphaps it appears so, on the surface but, I did know where my kids were and with whom they were doing it! I believe that my kids are reaping the harvest of their parents caring enough to ask the tough question!

When I was growing up, I remember a newscaster for the 11 o'clock news saying, "It's 11 o'clock, do you know where your kids are?" Perhaps, our kids need to be more accountable---it could be a start!