The Oct. 1, 2004, issue of Family Circle magazine reported on a survey showing that some parents aren't always in touch with what their kids are thinking. For example:

• 77 percent of children would like to have more time with their parents, yet only 46 percent of parents know it.
• 49 percent of teens say they admire their mom or dad more than anyone, but only 32 percent of parents think so.
• Nearly a third of 12- to 17-year-olds say they have drunk alcohol at some point, but only 6 percent of parents think they have.

Parents did come closer in understanding their teens' emotions (41 percent of parents described their teens as happy and 46 percent of teens described themselves that way; 2 percent of parents said their teens are sad and 3 percent of teens described themselves as sad).

Parents also underestimated their teens' top worries:

• Mom or dad getting sick (51 percent of teens said this, but only 29 percent of parents realized it).
• Terrorism (40 percent of teens, 24 percent of parents).
• School violence (34 percent of teens, 21 percent of parents).
• National disasters (29 percent of teens, 20 percent of parents).
• Bullies (25 percent of teens, 18 percent of parents).