No iPods or cell phones during family time! This is a rule I live by, and my teens hate me for, but they'll get over. Other rules to live by?

My main one is that I have full access to their friends, who they are talking to on the phone or Internet or at the mall or movies, and everywhere else. If my teen is hiding a relationship with someone from me, that's bad bad news. I want to know about it.

Since this is in the technology section, a pet peeve turned rule: No texting someone else when you are talking to me. I need your full attention, please! Your friend who's texting you can wait. Or they need to be on medication if they cannot wait.

Media. I need to know all about the media that's influencing you. Your songs that you download, the videos you download, the video games you play, etc etc etc. And if I don't approve, don't argue or your gadget (iPod, video game machine) is coming with me.