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“Don’t yell as much.”
“Don’t stress over the little things.”
“Let me learn from my mistakes.”
From the mouths of babes.
I love hearing the teen perspective on parenting. And that’s exactly what Elise just received in 20/20.
Elise is a youth worker who just polled the teenagers in her class of middle and high school students about their relationship with their parents and where God fits into that relationship. She asked them, in their small groups (by grade), to compile a list of advice for their parents. Here’s a glimpse at some of the answers.
The No. 1 answer she heard again and again was:
“Hear what I have to say/ Listen to me!”
Second most common answer was a tie between these two:
“Be more understanding.”
“Don’t be critical.”
Third most common answers:
“More family time”
“Trust us more.”
And the next most popular answers… in order:
“Let me go places.”
“Respect my need for privacy/space.”
“Don’t be overprotective.”
“Talk with me more.”
“Don’t overreact.”
“Don’t make me the example when my siblings do something wrong.”
“Don’t yell so much.”
“Don’t stress over the little things.”
“Be respectful.”
“Don’t yell at me randomly.”
“Me more openminded.”
FEELING IMPERFECT? BE ENCOURAGED BY JONATHAN’S CLASSIC PARENTING BOOK, CANDID CONFESSIONS OF AN IMPERFECT PARENT
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