Have you ever wondered how your kids would evaluate your parenting? For instance, when it comes to “prepares delicious meals,” my daughter would likely hand me a solid D, citing my lack of cookies, pizza, and extra helpings of her favorite snacks. On the flip side, if the subject is “creates a fun and unique space in my room,” I might snag an A—assuming everything is superhero-themed, of course. Meanwhile, my youngest isn’t verbal yet, but I like to think they’re satisfied with the basics of food and shelter.
In a segment on a popular morning show, several children assigned their parents an F in the category of “understands my emotions.” One insightful child remarked, “sometimes parents forget what it’s like to be our age.” It’s true; busy parents often get caught up in their own lives and may not take the time to remember what it feels like to be four, eleven, or even fifteen. A parenting report card can spark a valuable dialogue about how kids are feeling and what challenges they may be facing—issues that might differ greatly from what we assume. One child even noted that parents can lose their cool for seemingly no reason (really, I can’t fathom it!) and using a report card could help open up a two-way conversation about emotions.
When the topic turned to “does your parent discuss sex with you?” there was some visible unease among the kids. One child exclaimed, “we don’t want to talk about that!” and the parents confirmed that their kids—mostly aged 7 to 12—didn’t have any burning questions just yet. But hey, credit to the parents for bringing it up!
The concept of a parenting report card is excellent because it encourages ongoing conversations about family dynamics. Children should feel their voices are acknowledged. However, the aspects that might earn you the lowest grades are often the most essential, as parenting sometimes involves making tough choices rather than simply being the fun parent. Furthermore, asking your child to evaluate your parenting can lead to sudden requests for more ice cream and extra screen time!
So, how do you think you’d score? Find out by taking your own parenting report card here.
This article originally appeared on March 17, 2023.
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In summary, evaluating your parenting through a child’s perspective can be enlightening. While many aspects may surprise you, it opens the door for meaningful conversations about emotions and family dynamics.
Keyphrase: parenting report card
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