Lately I have been thinking a lot about this new generation. Some folks call it Generation Y. Others call it the "New Millenials". All I know is that I mean anyone who was born say, when Bill Clinton was president. Mostly I have been thinking of teenagers - how they used to be, how they are today. And wondering what's behind the way they see the world.

My experience is that teenagers these days don't work as hard as I remember working. They don't feel as grateful. They can talk back a bit. They are more aware. And man, they are smart. But what really bothers me, if I had to put my finger on it, is what I see as an entitlement culture. There is a sense of obligation, and sense of "what's due us".

I know I sound like an old fuddy-duddy. Heck, you may even think this has something to do with my parenting skills (or lack thereof?). But it really doesn't matter where it comes from, does it? What we need to do is try to understand it, and work with it as parents.

I know that there are attitudes from today's teenagers that are really tough for me. They tap into reactions for me, and I am sure for many teachers and parents, that I didn't even really know I had. There's disrespect. They are certainly more plugged in, online, and informed than I ever was. But fighting it isn't easy. The teachers I know who try to fight it end up frustrated, as do the parents.

I have been trying to think lately of where it comes from, and I have a theory. Today's teenagers have grown up in a country at war. We don't often talk about it, but the kids do. Many of them don't respect their president. Many of them have watched closely and learned about stories about corporate bailouts and CEO salaries. The very elements of our country that have made many of us cynical have done the same thing to our teenagers.

Add in Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, Gmail and much more, and you get generation of kids that has been discouraged by national leadership, felt a lack of mentors and inspiration, and has plenty of opportunities to talk about it with their friends.

As I have been mulling over this generation, I read a parenting article about the best ways to connect to the members of Generation Y - as a parent or a teacher.