• Enforce some type of homework rules.

• Encourage me to bring my grades up.

• Make more family time.

• Pay more attention to your teen's actions-they can be crafty, especially when the family is always busy.

• Don't yell so much. It will either hurt the child's feelings or encourage them to yell at their children.

• Encourage your children for anything they do, no matter how small it may seem to you...SMALL DEEDS DONE ARE GREATER THAN GREAT DEEDS PLANNED.

• Ease up a little. Don't always be so serious about every little thing.

• Be a little more flexible with us.

• Don't ask so many questions. I appreciate you being there for your teen, but you load me down by asking too many questions.

• Don't try to beat around the bush. Just try to give me a straightforward answer.

• Don't give me advice all of the time. Sometimes I need to learn the hard way.

• No grounding. Grounding doesn't work. I can do almost anything I want when I'm grounded. Find some other form of punishment.

• There should be equal rights of chores and equal rights between parents and kids. Don't tell me I can't do something if you are doing it yourself.

• Don't gripe at your kids so much about little things.

• Don't put so much pressure on being so perfect. Love your children for who they are.

• Put limits on your child's activities and curfew, etc. This shows that you care.

• Make sure BOTH PARENTS are involved in the kid's life and activities.

• Praise your children when they do good.

• Don't constantly put them down, harping on the way they dress, things they do, etc.

• Let your teen have the privileges and responsibilities that you think they need and deserve. Don't go by their general age group. It should be different for each individual person.

• Don't say, "No," just because you haven't said it in awhile.

• Give reasons and explanations to your children for your actions. Sometimes we see things as unfair that we might understand if you would explain it. "Because I'm your parent," is not an acceptable answer.

• Give us structures and guidelines, but let us have the freedom to make some of the mistakes and learn for ourselves.

• Don't feel so uncomfortable talking to me about important topics, (God, sex, drugs, friends).

• Spend more time with your children talking about what they are doing and what they are interested in.

• Surprise your children with small things from time to time.

• Let them go to different kinds of teen activities.

• Let them have a choice as to what they want to be involved in.

• Help as much as possible with schoolwork and still let them learn. You've been there before.

• Understand that I have a life also. It is just as important as yours.

• Help better prepare your teen for their life after they leave home.

• Allow your kids to discuss the family rules, don't just make them. Stick to the consequences if the rule is broken.

• If your child opens up and tells you something they did in the past that was wrong, don't punish them (they have already punished themselves).

• Talk to your kid's friends.

• Be involved with your children - eat together and talk about the day. Ask your kids specific questions and share in a real conversation.

• DO NOT PRACTICE THE, "DO AS I SAY AND NOT AS I DO," FACTOR. This confuses your teen and only makes your relationship with them much worse.

• Give your child a good Spiritual foundation. This will help encourage the child to grow toward God and to be a good Christian.

• Teach your child to take care of all possessions. This will improve their attitude toward things and other people.

• Start telling your child about God when they are very young. At night, spend time with your child and read them a Bible story.

• When your teen wants to tell you about something that is bothering them, just listen. Don't criticize them. Odds are that they are worried about it enough already.

• BE PATIENT WITH YOUR CHILD.

• READ THE BIBLE AND PRAY EVERYDAY WITH YOUR FAMILY.

• Say, "I Love You," more than once a month.

• Listen and be more understanding when your teen is at fault.

• LOVE AT ALL COSTS.

• Communication is the key to a good relationship. Don't forget it!

• Don't ever expect your kids to agree with your point of view at all times.

• Try to understand that your kid will not be just like you when you were a kid. Don't compare their childhood to yours - it is different!

• Don't just say, "no," because you don't think you say, "no," enough!

• If you trust your child, TRUST THEIR CHOICE OF FRIENDS!

• Don't assume that you always know what's best! Times are different than when you were a teen and everyone makes mistakes - even parents!

• Don't act like everyone must be perfect!

• If you're paranoid about everything, don't let it show!

• Don't be paranoid!

• Show some trust to your child by not having to know exactly where they are every second of every day.

• Show your child that you are a real person and not just a lecturing parent. This will greatly improve your relationship.

• Don't threaten to disinherit your child or throw them out of the house if they ever make a mistake. Let them know that you will always love them no matter what happens.

• Don't ever violate your child's privacy!

• Be supportive of your daughter's choice in a boyfriend, even when he's not your first choice.

• DON'T EVER COMPARE YOUR CHILD TO ANYONE ELSE, GOOD OR BAD.

• Be able to have enough patience to wait and listen to the teenager when they are trying to explain their side of the story. Don't just blow up in their face and not give them their right to voice their opinion.

• Teach them to stand up for themselves. Show them that they are someone and not a nerd.

• Do things for their talents. Don't ignore their talents. Let them get involved with things that display their talents.

• Don't take your job related stress out on your family.

• Read the Bible and pray with your kids. They need to see your desire for spiritual things.

• Take a break to spend time with your kids - BEING WITH US IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN PROVIDING THINGS FOR US.

• Don't always focus on the negative. If you compliment your children they will act much more positively.

• Before yelling at your kids for their actions, take the time to find out why they did what they did.

• Gradually give your child more freedom as they continue to grow - this is for your sake as well as for theirs.

• Expect the best from your children but not the impossible!

I sincerely hope that this information is helpful and beneficial to you as a parent and a leader in your home. Many times it can help to know the perspective of those around us to help us understand where changes need to be made. I hope that reading these comments expressed by your sons and daughters will cause you to think more about your responsibility and your influence as a parent and in turn will cause changes in our actions that will lead to closer, more loving family relationships.