1. Journal “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the ole man around. But when I got to be twenty- one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.” Mark Twain Make a list of the things you feel like your parents just don’t get. Explain how you feel about these things.

2. Guidelines for Parents As experiences are given, make a list of your own guidelines. What did your parents want from you when you were young? What was expected? Give your children rules and limits so they will learn self-control. Give your children rules and limits so they will learn self-control. Reason with your children. Reason with your children. Did your parents love you as much as they loved your sibling? You can’t and shouldn’t treat all your kids the same. You can’t and shouldn’t treat all your kids the same. You have to be fair. You have to be fair.

3. More Guidelines for Parents Do you remember getting spanked? Let the punishment fit the offense. Let the punishment fit the offense. Don’t punish when your temper is out of control. Your anger can only be interpreted as hatred. Don’t punish when your temper is out of control. Your anger can only be interpreted as hatred. Did your parents respect your opinions and let you make decisions? Even if their opinions seem wrong, at least hear them out before saying no. Even if their opinions seem wrong, at least hear them out before saying no. Be a little flexible, willing to change your mind. Be a little flexible, willing to change your mind. How did your parents show they cared? Really pay attention to your children. Really pay attention to your children. If they are misbehaving, think back to see if you’ve been ignoring them lately. If they are misbehaving, think back to see if you’ve been ignoring them lately.

4. More Guidelines for Parents How did your parents feel about you and school? Don’t make them feel ashamed if they are doing their best and their best isn’t good enough. Don’t make them feel ashamed if they are doing their best and their best isn’t good enough. Understand that school can sometimes be a drag, even when they like it. Understand that school can sometimes be a drag, even when they like it. How did your parents feel about you and religion? Live the same standards you are trying to teach your children. Live the same standards you are trying to teach your children. Make religion an important part of their lives, not just a duty. Make religion an important part of their lives, not just a duty. How did your parents feel about your friends? Try to understand what they like about their friends. Try to understand what they like about their friends. Don’t judge their friends until you know them. Don’t judge their friends until you know them.

5. More Guidelines for Parents How did your parents react to your turning 13? Did they give you the right balance of responsibility and independence? No matter how annoying they are, endure! No matter how annoying they are, endure! Give them a chance to prove that they are growing up, but not too much responsibility at once. Give them a chance to prove that they are growing up, but not too much responsibility at once. What did your parents teach you about male/female relationships? Don’t wait for them to ask questions; they may be afraid to ask. Don’t wait for them to ask questions; they may be afraid to ask. Teach them that relationships take a lot of work. Teach them that relationships take a lot of work. How did your parents treat each other? Treat each other with respect, even when you disagree. Treat each other with respect, even when you disagree. Hatred between parents is one of the most frightening things a child can experience. Hatred between parents is one of the most frightening things a child can experience.

6. More Guidelines for Parents What were your parents’ goals for you? Were they the same as your goals for yourself? Don’t decide for them what they should want. Don’t decide for them what they should want. If you think something is important for them, try to make it look attractive. If you think something is important for them, try to make it look attractive. When you were afraid, how did your parents help you? They need to know you will always help when they need it. They need to know you will always help when they need it. What are your favorite memories? Take the time with them to create memories of love. Take the time with them to create memories of love. Doing something fun, different or exciting with the family lasts forever. Doing something fun, different or exciting with the family lasts forever. Traditions are treasured. Traditions are treasured.

7. The Trophy Case

8. Relating What is the correlation between family responsibilities and the feelings family members have for each other? Count off by six. Each group write list. List of things parents can do that make you feel positively about yourself. List of things parents can do that make you feel positively about yourself. List of things you can do to make family relationships run smoothly. List of things you can do to make family relationships run smoothly. List of your parents’ common quotations. List of your parents’ common quotations. List of common clichés teens use. List of common clichés teens use. List things parents do that annoy you. List things parents do that annoy you. List things you do to annoy parents. List things you do to annoy parents. Compare relationship of lists 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6.

9. Interviews Parents are People Complete the questions then interview one of your parents. Complete the questions then interview one of your parents. Teens are People, too. They need to do the same for you. They need to complete the questions and then interview you. They need to do the same for you. They need to complete the questions and then interview you.