Last August I wrote here about helicopter parents and how so many of us don't seem to know when to back off and let our kids learn about the world and take a few lumps.

Frankly, I'm getting tired of hearing about kids who get in trouble at school and instead of also getting in trouble at home because they got in trouble at school (my own parents' approach — which seemed to work), their parents are busy marching down to the principal's office with their attorney.

Are there times when the school might get it wrong? Of course. Do we need to be supportive parents? Definitely. But doesn't it seem as if this pendulum has been swinging WAY too far in one direction for the past decade?

What are these parents so afraid of? That their kid won't get into Harvard because he doesn't have a perfect record? It seems like, for too many parents these days, if their kid is caught cheating in school, doing drugs on campus, repeatedly dressing like a hooker or drinking in the restroom, their first thought is to put up that umbrella, to pave the way to "success," to hover and to do everything but teach their child to be responsible for his or her actions.

I know of one high school that has completely given up on having a dress code because too many parents were up in arms about their kids' right to "express themselves." Some threatened legal action. (I kid you not.) So now they have 15-year-old girls running around in sexy cropped shirts with the top of their thongs hanging out, ready to be snapped by 15-year-old boys. On campus. In English class.

Nice.

Behavior has consequences out in the real world. Parents can't justify every action and smooth a kid's way in life forever, nor should they. If they try to, how does that lead to healthy, well-adjusted young adults?

Our son is only starting sixth grade in the fall, but Randy and I already are getting a preview of the teen years that lie ahead. And we know we’ll have plenty of challenges and decisions to deal with.

Parenting a teen these days calls for a cool head — and solid information. The Parenting Teens Resource Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing news, resources and journal articles that are helpful for parents of teens. (Disclosure: I have contributed writing to this site. But I spend more time there as a parent than as a writer. There’s just so much helpful info available.)

Also, through the organization’s online Parent Forum, parents can talk to each other and ask questions of parenting experts and teens themselves.

Because, let’s face it, none of us has all the answers. Do you know what the latest “gateway” drug is? Is your teenager too old
for the pediatrician’s office? Could your student athlete be tempted to use steroids? In addition to information on drugs and alcohol abuse, the site covers gambling, internet/video game use, teen weight issues, sports and sports injuries, bullying, dating, single parenting, gender issues, teaching life skills and much more. Check it out.