Quote Magazine (September 1, 1985) published ten behaviours children ages 8 to 14 identified as qualities wanted in parents. These young people, from 24 countries, agreed on 10 traits they believed were important for all parents to possess. Here they are:

1. They want harmony. They do not want their parents to have unresolved and destructive conflict in front of them.

2. They want love. They wish to be treated with the same affection as other children in the family.

3. They want honesty. They do not want to be lied to.

4. They want acceptance. They desire mutual tolerance from both parents.

5. They want their parents to like their friends. They want their friends to be welcomed in the home.

6. They want closeness. They desire comradeship with their parents.

7. They want their parents to pay attention to them and answer their questions.

8. They want consideration from their parents. They do not want to be embarrassed or punished in front of friends.

9. They want positive support. They wish for their parents to concentrate on their good points rather than their weaknesses.

10. They want consistency. They desire parents to be constant in their affections and moods.

Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.

WITandWISDOM(tm) – March 16, 2000 subscribe-wit-wisdom@xc.org