There was another set of index cards. Those kids I interviewed about their teachers wrote something else.
Things I Wish My Parents Knew:
- … that I see you texting while I am trying to talk to you.
- … that I hate it when my mom says my nickname at the store or when friends are over! And my dad always acts like a 12-yr old brother! He hides behind my door and then screams BOO! It is very annoying. hmmf.
- … that it hurts my feelings when I’m upset and you don’t care. You always say, “Stop being a cry baby!”
- … that I try my hardest to accomplish my hopes and dreams, and when I do, I just want to know if my dad is proud of me.
- … that I am not dumb and I am very smart.
- … that I don’t like it when my dad is gone for a long time.
- … that I know my stepmom doesn’t like my real mom because I see the faces she makes when I talk about her.
- … that I can tell my dad is afraid of going to the doctor because he knows it is probably skin cancer.
- … that I know my dad is not listening because he’ll be on the computer and he’ll say, “Yeah,” when it wasn’t a yes or no question.
- … that it hurts when my mom screams at me all the time about my grades like I’m not even trying in school.
- … that I really do try my hardest to run as fast as I can in soccer games and I really DO try to score as many times as I can.
- … how many things confuse or even scare me.
- … that I hate it when you tell me your divorce was not my fault, when I know I am most of the problem.
- … that it scares me when my mom uses her phone in the car while she is driving.
- … that if my mom is on the phone or cleaning while I talk to her, it doesn’t feel like she is listening to me.
- … that I want to play games as a family every once in a while.
- … that I wish my dad would get off facebook! He is always on the computer, and I’m like, “Let’s go, dad!” and he says ok, but then 20 minutes later I have to say it again.
- … that my dad knew that I don’t like Frisbee as much as he does and I don’t want to play Frisbee all the time.
- … that I want to spend more time with you.
- … that I feel alone when you go to work.
- … that when I am talking, and you suddenly take a call, it really hurts my feelings.
- … that when I talk to you, you are usually too busy with PCs or phones, so when I ask you a question and then there is two or three minutes of silence, I know you weren’t listening in the first place.
- … that school is a lot of pressure on kids, and kids have their ups and downs. Also, please realize that work is not as important as family.
- … how much I enjoy the little time I get to spend with you, playing games or talking or just hanging out.
- … that sometimes I feel that you just don’t want to listen to me.
- … that even if I don’t continue with soccer, I still love my dad and I’m not trying to let my team or him down.
- … how painful some of your comments are.
- … how mom’s smoking affects me.
- … that I’m not as confident as I seem, how much I love spending time with you, how hard I work, and how proud I am to be your daughter.
- … that I hate how much you fight.
- … that not everything is funny or a joke.
- … that I can tell you don’t hear a single word I am saying because you are talking on the phone, texting, and not paying attention to me.
- … that you can’t protect me from everything.
- … that I want you to stop treating me like I’m five and embarrassing me in public.
- … that I love it when my dad does really corny jokes. Sometimes I act like I don’t like them, but I really do.
- … that when my mom yells at me for doing something wrong, it only makes me not want to try again, worrying that I will disappoint her.
- … that I wish you would go through with your promises. I will ask to go fishing, and my parents say tomorrow, but when that day comes, they make up an excuse not to go.
- … that just because you tell me I can’t, it doesn’t mean that I won’t. It just makes me scared when I come to ask you questions.
- … that I really don’t like trying new things. I don’t like new foods or new songs. Why can’t you let me stick with things I like?
- … that my sister and I can hear you fighting.
- … that I wish you would want to hang out with me in your spare time and not watch the new Grey’s Anatomy or play a facebook game.
- … that it frustrates me when you wrestle and scream at one another.
- … that I love them.
- … that I love them.
- … how much I love them.