I am compelled to share with the parents of teens some information which has come up several times this week.  This concept of "I just forgot to turn in my homework."  Teens across America appear to have stumbled onto this debilitating trait of "doing their homework" and "not turning in their homework."  Have you ever heard of such a thing?  Parents consistently tell me how crazy it is and how the they can not imagine doing all that work and then not turning it in --- what is wrong with my child? --- Well, as crazy as it sounds to the adult might be the first clue.

When your teen tells you something that sounds odd, out of the ordinary, or just doesn't make sense; there may be a very good reason for this --- It isn't true.  Sure, there are always going to be weird quirks of the teen-generation which parents will not understand.  But they truly are few and far between.  Minus the insertion of technology, the parents of today are actually pretty hip when it comes to their teens.  (Come on, we watched MTV also!)

If you have a teen who consistently says he/she didn't "turn in my homework" or the ever popular "I forgot to put my name on it" --- ask to see it and the assignment.  I have yet to discuss this with a teen who doesn't fess up to lying and not completing the work.  Did they start their homework? - Sure.  Did they complete it? - Not so much.

Trust your instinct first and then your teen.