The Thing About Thongs

Why the bottom line has become a battleground for parents of tweens

All in all, I had thought I was doing pretty well in bridging the "generation gap"--though my kids would say even this outmoded phrase betrays a certain cluelessness. In any case, my teenagers and I can readily agree on playing Radiohead and Coldplay during car trips. We laugh together at Queer Eye and Jon Stewart. Then there's Johnny Depp. My 14-year-old daughter and I are totally eye to eye on that one (as long as I don't remind her that he's closer to my age than hers). Luckily, we've been able to skirt such deal breakers as tattooing and body piercing....

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!