THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, September 1, 1995              TAG: 9509010054
SECTION: DAILY BREAK              PAGE: E11  EDITION: FINAL 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   30 lines

BACK TALK

Here are readers' responses to last week's Teenspeak question: Why do teenagers have trouble talking to their parents?

I think the reasons teenagers have problems taking to their parents is that they don't want their parents to be upset with what they are telling them and that they are afraid the parents won't think their problems are very important compared to all their problems, like money and work. - Meagan Rowe, 12, Princess Anne Middle School

I find it hard to talk to my parents because I'm afraid they will get mad or upset with what I've done. I usually talk to a very good friend. - Rebecca Long, 14, Churchland Middle School

I think teens today have different concerns than their parents ever did. Even if we did talk to them, they probably wouldn't know how to help. There are just different situations now. I think if little kids get a lot of guidance early on, they will make good decisions as teenagers. That's what I feel I have done. Parents think of how things used to be. Today, if you get in a fight, someone might come back and shoot you; it used to be you won the fight and it was over. I think it's a classic generation gap. - Kevin Hix, 15, Nansemond River High School by CNB