My Turn

by Debra J. Mamorsky
Founder and Editor in Chief

Four out of five teens complain that they don't spend enough time with their parents. Additionally, a report that was prepared by the Council of Economic Advisors and distributed at the President and Mrs. Clinton's Conference on Raising Responsible and Resourceful Teens, tells us that families that discover ways of "remaining connected," whether by sharing a meal together five days a week, or by planning family activities, create a better foundation for guaranteeing the success a teenager will have as he or she meets the challenges of peer pressure, smoking, drugs, sex, guns, suicide, etc.

Developing the ability to adeptly navigate the odyssey of getting through teenage years unscathed in today's world is much harder than it was when I was growing up. While there were the same peer pressures and the same enticements, temptations and troubles, we didn't experience them as early as teens do today, we weren't imbued with disturbing violent images or a barrage of sexual images. Our teen culture wasn't steeped in a constantly mounting sea of internet information. We weren't worried about gun violence in school, or terribly concerned about either marrying or becoming a millionaire. We weren't educated about getting sexually transmitted diseases in the fourth grade. We didn't have to know as much, move as quickly, and assume as much responsibility as teens need to do today. Overwhelming pressures comprise the world of today's teens, and very often these difficult to sort out problems are worked out with peers who are struggling to stay afloat, too.

This issue of TEENSPEAK Today for the Leaders of Tomorrow is about communication. Today we are immersed in a media communication culture where everyone is "in our face" communicating, and we are talking back,