What Kids Really Think
It was a good thing I worked with a group of women who had been mothers for a lot longer than I had, and who were kind enough to share guidance, advice and the benefits of their experience with me as I floundered through my first few years of motherhood.
Once again, kids have taken over Owensboro Parent magazine! What a fun opportunity each year to enjoy the talent, imagination and creativity of young people of our community as they write articles and design advertisements!
This annual event got me to thinking: What if kids could take over our schools and homes? What ideas and suggestions might they have? So I reached out to my three grandkids with a few questions to find out what they are thinking. Here are their responses:
What is your favorite thing to do with your family?
Zeke, age 9 (Estes Elementary School) – Christmas gift-giving and playing games.
Brody, age 10 (Audubon Elementary School) – Go to the beach.
Briley, age 14 (College View Middle School) – Go out to eat.
What is your favorite thing about school?
Zeke – The end of the day because I get out of school.
Brody – Math and recess.
Briley – Hanging out with my friends.
What is something about school you would change if you could?
Zeke – Longer recess.
Brody – Have my favorite teacher every year.
Briley – Change lunch to where you can eat whatever you want.
Name three things that you think are different about being a kid now compared to what it was like for your Mom and Dad to be a kid.
Zeke – Kids had to pay for their lunch when my parents were in school. McDonald’s had a playground. They didn’t have video games to play when they were bored.
Brody – Clothes (y’all wore baggie clothes), hairstyles and prices of stuff.
Briley – Styles of clothing; phones, GPS and Life360; cars.
Which childhood experience is better – yours or your parents? Explain why.
Zeke – Mine, because I get to play in the water park at Holiday World.
Brody – Mom and Dad’s, because I’m not done with my childhood.
Briley – Mine, because we go on vacation, we eat out, we have a dog and we go to parties.
Think about what you will do when you have kids of your own. Describe at least one thing you will do the same as your parents.
Zeke – Buy crab legs for them.
Brody – Play basketball with them.
Briley – Go to the beach as a family.
Describe at least one thing you will do differently.
Zeke – Not make my kids take naps.
Brody – Have them try different foods.
Briley – Don’t be a neat freak (like my Dad).
So there you have it! At least in the opinions of these three kids, there are lots of things they like about being a kid today, but there are also things they would change, both for themselves and for their own future children.
And now it’s your turn. Take a moment to talk to your children and grandkids. Ask for their thoughts and opinions. Let them take over the conversation – just as they have already taken over your heart.
