High school parties, alcohol, MSN, text messages, innocence, where have all the parents gone?

Young people have so many wonderful opportunities in our new, advanced technology world. With opportunties comes exposure. Exposure can be a good thing and it can be a bad thing. There were New Year's Eve parties around our town. Young people having a great, safe time and young people driving drunk, arriving to the party and embarrassing themselves. There are kids who follow the rules and those who make the rules. With the use of cell phones there is a false sense of security at times. A parent may reach their child, but does the parent really know what is going on with them? Are they really where they are supposed to be? It takes time, effort, checking in and checking on. How many phone calls do we answer for our children? Who does call them? How long do they talk to them? Are they staying up all hours of the night and losing sleep answering calls? Do we check on them? Are my children safe in bed and still asleep at 2 am? Do I know who my kids like to hang out with? What kind of language do my children use? Is it vulgar like I have read on line? What do boys say to my daughter? It is easier to write something, than say it sometimes. Is my son polite with his words? How much time does my son spend talking with his girlfriend? Do I ever ask or seem to care? Are my kids still innocent enough to come to me with hurts, questions, concerns or is life too electronic and busy. It may be simpler to call a friend. Intrusive, you may be thinking. I am thinking love. Love is real and there is absolutely no substitute. Look at the MSN freespace sometime, you'll find young people looking, longing for love. Where have all the childen gone and do the parents have a clue? Maybe it is too technical for them to find out.