It's really hard to be a parent in today's fast-paced, instant gratification world.

We are sure that the parents of Baby Boomers felt the same way.

In those days, parents were faced with the horror of finding their children with girly magazines or that first smoke or even missing the dreaded curfew.

Their response was usually a good long restriction or a lecture.

None of those things, that caused parents munch anguish, were deadly.

Today there lurks so many dangers and pitfalls for teenagers and even pre-teens on the internet it takes a constant, almost around the clock vigilance, by parents to keep their children out of harm's way.

Recently a man lost his 26-year-old son. When the toxicology reports came back they found that he died of a morphine overdose.

It's a tragedy in itself to lose a child, but it's more of a tragedy to lose a child to drug abuse.

It turns out that the young man was getting his drugs directly from the internet. It seems it is as simple as going out and purchasing a pre-paid charge card so that purchases cannot be tracked.

There is a loud squeal from people if you talk about policing the internet.

Although we believe there should be less government control of our lives, there has to be some kind of system to protect better our children from online predators.

Parents, keep a watchful eye on your children's use of the internet. There are tons of software available to block certain Web sites from your children.

The internet is a tool we all use on a daily basis and should not be a cause for concern regarding the well being of our children. Parents are the keys to ensuring children's safety in the online world.

You can bring about change. For all of our children. We encourage you to do so.