What Kids REALLY Want from Parents

Do you know what your kids appreciate most about you or from you? Have you ever asked them? Erin Kurt has.

As a teacher, one of her favorite assignments was a Mother's Day assignment where she would ask her students to write about what their mother or guardian did with them or for them that made them feel happy or loved.

Their answers may surprise you, especially given yesterday's news that children and teens spend an average of more than 7 hours DAILY "married" to technology in the form of TV, cell phones, texting, video games, computers, social networking, the internet, etc., not to mention how "overscheduled" they seem to be!

Here's the top 10 responses Ms. Kurt received from her students:

- Come into my bedroom at night, tuck me in and sing me a song. Also tell me stories about when you were little.
- Give me hugs and kisses and sit and talk with me privately.
- Spend quality time just with me, not with my brothers and sisters around.
- Give me nutritious food so I can grow up healthy.
- At dinner talk about what we could do together on the weekend.
- At night talk to me about about anything; love, school, family etc.
- Let me play outside a lot.
- Cuddle under a blanket and watch our favorite TV show together.
- Discipline me. It makes me feel like you care.
- Leave special messages in my desk or lunch bag.

Insightful and heart-warming, isn't it?

Before I sat down to write this, I asked my kids this question, "What is one thing that I do with you or for you that makes you feel happy or loved?"

I must also share that I was a bit worried about the answers I would receive as my question interupted a texting session between my 13-year old son and six of his friends (he got a cell phone 3 weeks ago and earns up to an hour of texting time each day). He was concurrently watching my 11-year old daughter design a new character for the Wii. (We had finished playing Horse-opoly together a few minutes earlier.)

Their responses were immediate and in unison.

"Cook my dinner and wash my clothes." (Son)

"Tuck me in." (Daughter)

WHEW! What a relief!

Just kidding. I wasn't at all surprised by their answers as the first nine things on the list are part of our family's daily rituals. And the tenth. . . I randomly surprise them with little notes or smiley faces or special treats.

These ten things are purposefully important in our home and are some of my most memorable and favorite things my mother did for me when I was growing up.

What did your mother do with you or for you that made you feel happy and loved while growing up? Ask your kids the same question. They just may surprise you, and themselves! If nothing else, it's a wonderful conversation starter about gratitude and what's really important. Or, perhaps, it may be a much needed wake-up call.

I look forward to reading your comments about how you and/or your children answered this question.

Click here to read the full article by Erin Kurt on Lifehack