Raising the Perfect Parent…

These come from the book
always kiss me goodnight: Instructions on Raising the Perfect Parent
by 147 kids who know

I cry every time I read it…

…I cry in shame
because I hear some of these things coming out of the mouths of my own boys and it is a reminder to me that I am not a perfect parent and that I must always strive to be better

…I cry in sadness
because there are sooo many children for whom all of these are true (and some who endure far worse at the hands that are to love and protect them)

…I cry in awe and wonder
at the wisdom of such small beings who truly know, better that we can even imagine, what it is that they really need

…I cry with joy
because of the honesty with which they can express those needs

The author met with children from 14 grade schools, representing various ethnic and economic backgrounds and asked them to write,

“If I could tell my parents how to raise me, I’d tell them ________________”

* * * * * * * * * *

caring

Encourage me.
Billy, 9

Have convdents in me.
Kelly

beleve that I could acheve my goels.
AVA
Age 11

Listen to me when I am talking.
Allie

Don’t screem at me becaus I am small and I am not pefect.
Jessica

Cheer for me when I get a hit.
David, 10

When I am crying say nice things.
Daniela

When I am down, raise me up.
Eric, 10

always have faith in me, Never get mad at me.
Robert, 10 1/2

love me like you never loved anyone before.
azar, 10 years old

Never be mean. Always say “I’m sorry.”
Kathy, age 10

complement me
Brianne 10

try as hard as you can to be very fair.
thanks
Romy
age 9

respet me,
dont egnore me
Schuyler

Trust me!!!
ELLIOT

make me Be Beautifull.
Jackie

Be there for me.
Barry

Keep your promises better.
Jeanette, 10 years old

Don’t leave me in the car
when you go to do stuff.
Stuart, 8

write notes to me on my lunchbox napkin.
Jenny
8 years old

Think wehn yow were a kid
and not yell so much
JOE

If you get mad at me
remember to forgive me.
Suzanne

snugel me up
in your arms
Sasha Age 8

love me for what I am.
Ethan 10 years old

Be proud of me even if
I didn’t get all the answers
correct.
Sachi
age 10

Don’t lie to me.
Marilena 9 1/2

don’t take me for granted.
Ben 10

sit down and have a conversation with me
Kathleen
Age 11

say “I love you,” once in a while,
not just when I’m leaving for scohol.
Amber-Age 11

whenever I am in need,
spend all the time you can
with me.
Leonard, age 8

Hold me when I’m sad.
Melody 9

give me things to look
forward to
Rob 10 years.

Treat me like  you treat
your Customers.
Karen Age 10

you must always love me through good times and bad
Casey
Age 8

lissen to my feellings.
Laramie
age 10

kiss and hug me when I
am not feeling %100%.
Jessica age:10

Attend all of my special occasions
Greg .Age 10

be proud of my best.
Jessica, age 8 3/4 yrs.

I love it when I am considered a wonderful kid.
Ryan 10

Keep up the Love
Morty* * * * * * * * * *

guidance & independence

tell me what’s right and what is not.
Tyler 11

teach me something every day
Edward

say “it would help if you do it this way”,
instead of “you are doing it wrong.”
Linden

encorrige me to work on things that I am not the best at.
LAILA
Age: 10

tell me what I did Right.
Amanda
Age: 10

Help me with stuff I don’t Understand.
Erica
Age: 11

Don’t laugh at me when I need to ask ?’s.
Julie
Age 11 1/2

when I have troubles let me talk to you about it.
Racheli
9 years old

If I want to buy something with my own money let me buy it because Im paying for it not you and its going to be mine not yours.
Katherine 9

STiMULATE MY MiND.
CHRiSTOPHER
AGE 8

don’t pick out my close.
let me dress the way I want.
Bryna
9 yers

Please don’t kiss me in front of school.
Britney

let me make a mess
when I am doing art.
Addison

Let me play in the Durt
or play in the tree.
Jaclyn

Make me be smarter.
Amanda 9

Let me make decisions that I think would be good and mabye they would be as good as the decisions that  you made for me.
Caleb, 10

Support me.
Curran 12345678910

help me with my homework.
Casey
Age 8

I want to be in charge but you still be in charge because if I grew up without rules I’d frow up to be dumb and spoiled.
Christine

!NUF EVAH EM PLEH
9, LUAP

Let Me get into the Sports I want to
Ben Age 10

LET ME GET WET IN THE RAIN.
Jessica

Let me go on the Eskalator that goes up when i’m going down.
Eric age-9 yrs. old

Let me choose what I want in my lunch.
Steven 9

don’t try to find out my secrets.
Stephanie
10 years old

Please don’t get in your car and go romeing the streets trying to hunt me down if I’m 2 or 3 minutes late to be home.
Trevor age 12

Don’t get mad at me for something until I keep doing that thing over again.
Jeremy 10 yrs

I like piano, but I would like to stop.
life is good when your a kid so you should have some fun.
Alex 10

Don’t punish me for doing things by accident.
Aaron 9

MoRe free tiMe!
Don’t fill my life up
every minute of the day.
-Chritine, age 10

Don’t make me wear Stupid hats when it’s cold outside.
CeCil 9 yrs.

Help me if I have problems with my friends.
Alberto 10

Interest me in lots of things.
Mendel 11

Don’t be so serious with me.
Sarina 9

Teach me to make good and smart judgments.
Matt, 10

Admit when I do something rude,
and then you do the same thing, it’s rude too.
Aviva, Age 9

Don’t get frustrated if I don’t understand something.
Kerin, 11

Raise me right because I want to be someone in life.
Renadeau, age: 9

keep on doing what you are doing.
T r a v i s

* * * * * * * * * *

family & friends

Let the house be peaceful.
Laura

let’s spend more family, precious time together.
Alamma, 9

Talk to me about your day.
Alison, 10

Give me hugs.
by Christopher 9 age

Sometimes can you play with me instead of saying no?
Frankie, 10

If you ever have a problem listen to me. Maybe I can help.
Dylan

Take me places I’ve never been.
Charles
Age #10 1/2

Say good bye when you are going somewere.
Jessica

Tell me a story about when You were a child.
Stephanie

let my friends come over.
Jullien Age 10

Let me have a sleepover.
Jessica 9

Love everyone in our family a lot!
Richard 9 years

come home early
Slava

Stop talking on the Phone and talk to Me.
Erin 9 years old

come with me to the park.
Andy
10 years old

Try to give me REASoNs
before you send me to my room.
-Stuart

Don’t spoil me and then later on yell at me for being spoiled.
Ariel 9 yrs old

Don’t blame me cause I’m the oldest.
Liz age 10 1/2

Take me somewhere special once in a while,
by myself, wihtout my sister.
Vivi 11 years old

Sing
Ryan
age 9

Lagh
Junko
age 9

Be together
Michelle
age 10

Play catch with me.
Walter
age 9

Don’t go to work on weekends.
Elizabeth
9 years old

have fun with me every day.
Keren 8

take me to the movies
Allison
10 3/4

Take me to the zoo.
Jorge age 11

TAkE ME ON CAMPING TRIPS.
Steve AGE 10

Take me out to a baseball game.
Hannah

Take me to amusement parks.
Alexander: Age 9

STOP GOING PLACES AND
LEVING ME WITH PEOPLE I DONT’ LIKE.
8 years old MEGAN

theech me how to ride my bike.
Armando
Age:8

Don’t have Dad work on the house so much.
Jenny 9

Let me have Privasey!
Laura

When we go out let me do something
that I want to do after you do what
you want to do.
Ariel
9 yrs old

Put good food that I Like in the ferge.
10 Matthew

Eat dinner with me!
Jessica age 10 1/2

Let me help cook sometimes.
Brian age:10

buy the kind of ice cream that I like,
not the bad tast good price kind.
Arthur Age 8

When I come back from school ask me about my day.
Shawn, 11

Try to play foot-ball with me, dad. Mom is not great.
Tim, 9

gite me a pet or a bug.
Jeffrey

take me to where  you grew up.
Rob 10 years

Tell me stories about my ansesters
Bobby 10

Have a family outing every month.
Nigel, 10

Put your sete belt on and I will do the same for my kids.
Rachel
age 10, 2 months

Lissen to both sides of a story when someone gets in truble.
Michael-10

Let me show you all of my creations.
charles 9

read to me (even though I can read.)
Amanda 9 yrs.

Pick me up and through me in the sky.
Age 9 Maryra

carry me on your shoulders.
Jules
9 years old.

tell me bed time stories
Mary age 9

Tuck me in.
Shawn

all I need you really already gave me and that is Love, Careing, and a roof over my head, and a good family to come to after school.
Amanda 9 yrs.

Never forget to Kiss me GoodNight.
Lauren, 10

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