WHAT CHILDREN WANT
Are you aware of the first Law of Parenthood? It states that nobody really wants your job, but everybody thinks they can do it better.
I appreciate the honesty of parents who sometimes feel overwhelmed by the task of parenthood. One man candidly said, "Before I got married I had three theories on raising children. Now I have three children and no theories!"
"Quote Magazine" (September 1, 1985) published ten behaviors children ages 8 to 14 identified as qualities they wanted in parents. These young people, from 24 countries, agreed on ten traits they believed were important for all parents to possess. Here they are:
1. They want harmony. They do not want their parents to have unresolved and destructive conflict in front of them.
2. They want love. They wish to be treated with the same affection as other children in the family.
3. They want honesty. And to be told the truth.
4. They want acceptance. They desire mutual tolerance from both parents.
5. They want their parents to like their friends. They want their friends to be welcomed in the home.
6. They want closeness. They desire comradeship with their parents.
7. They want their parents to pay attention to them and answer their questions.
8. They want consideration from their parents. They do not want to be embarrassed or punished in front of friends.
9. They want positive support. They wish for their parents to concentrate on their good points rather than their weaknesses.
10. They want consistency. They desire parents to be constant in their affections and moods.
It appears that these children want what all of us want - respect, consideration and love. In fact, these work well with "children" of all ages!
