We Live In An Age Where Common Sense Is Cutting-Edge

According to a study by MTV (which, by the way, is one of the best studiers of teenage culture/behavior, performing comprehensive data EVERY SIX WEEKS) and the Associated Press:

Family & friends matter most to young people.

In fact, the top 3 things that made teenagers happiest, in order, were, time with family, time with friends and their "significant other" (re: boyfriend/girlfriend). Money didn't make the list. Sex was actually found to be a detractor from being happy. Half said that religion and spirituality were important to them, and those that belonged to an organized religious group were "happier."

When they were asked who their heroes were: Either mom and/or dad.

Here's a quote from the article that pretty much sums it up:

"They're my foundation," says Kristiana St. John, 17, a high school student from Queens, N.Y. "My mom tells me that even if I do something stupid, she's still going to love me no matter what. Just knowing that makes me feel very happy and blessed."

Again, this is one of those studies that more or less details the obvious...

...but if parents were to take this stuff seriously they'd be considered cutting-edge.

Weird.