For the last three years or so, my son has become a creature that I do not know anymore. He was a Harry Potter look-a-like, with glasses, perpetually messy hair,and a fondness for cartoons and video games.

Now he has pierced ears, and a pierced eyebrow. He wears his many times dyed hair in a funny little style, reminicent of "Ed Grimley" the cartoon character. He listens to ICP ( Insane Clown Posse) and wants a tattoo.

His whole life revolves around his girlfriend. And when I say his whole life, I mean HIS WHOLE LIFE. He's trying to find a job, but wants to work it around HER school schedule. He never misses church, goes Wednesdays and Sundays, and I'm sure it's because she is there. Nearly the whole youth group at this church are of the "alternative" set. Which means that they wear the same clothes with death heads and metal band logos on them and "Tripps". He calls her several times a day, texts her and IM's her on the computer.  If she is depressed, he is depressed. If she gets sick he worries himself to death over her. They even wear each others clothes.

And speaking of clothes....What is with the pants they wear with chains hanging all over them and zippers with no openings. Pants legs with enough material in them to fit Two people in one pair. And is there any color besides black that is popular with the teen set now?

I'm still trying to figure out if he is Goth, Emo or Techno. Some of these kids don't even look human anymore. Their poor ears have huge holes in them that you can stick a finger into. They have so much metal on their heads and bodies that I'm afraid to stand next to them in a thunderstorm. They might draw lightning! Hopefully it is just a phase he's going through. But then, baggy pants with boxers was a phase too....15 years ago!