l LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD, BUT...
QUIZ FOR TEENAGERS
This questionnaire was prepared by
the staff at Hawk Mountain Press and distributed through www.parenting-teenagers-today.com.
The information gathered here will be used as research for a new book called,
I Love You, Mom and Dad, but… What teens think parents need to know about
adolescence”
We here at www.parenting-teenagers-today.com
are committed to seeing parents and teens develop lifelong relationships that
are both loving and friendly. Please have your teen or any teens you know
take this test and then return it to us via FAX (206-666-HAWK), as an email
(put an "X" beside multiple choice answers), or through the U.S. mail
to Hawk Mountain Press, 130 Glenview Avenue, Wyncote, PA 19095.
1. What is the #1 complaint you
have about your parent(s)?
a) They
don’t trust me.
b) They
yell at me and make me feel dumb; they don’t respect me.
c) They don’t
like my friends.
d) They
think I’m a bad kid when I’m just like everyone else.
e) They
treat me like I’m still 10 years old.
f) I can’t
trust them.
g) Other:
2. What is the #1 thing you’d like
to change about the way your parent(s) treat you?
a) I want
them to accept me for the way I am, not the way they want me to be.
b) They
should treat me as their equal, not a know-nothing kid whose opinion doesn’t
count.
c) I want
them to stop criticizing me, calling me names, and always harping on the
mistakes I make.
d) I want
them to acknowledge me and see the positive things I do.
e) I want
them stay out of my affairs, give me some space, and stop nagging me.
f) Other:
3. What causes the most fights and
upsets between you and your parent(s)?
a) when I talk back to them or disrespect them
b) when they act overprotective and don’t let me do things my
friends can do
c) when I break curfew or ignore what they say I have to do
d) when I disappoint them by not doing well in school or at
sports or something else they think is important.
e) when they embarrass me in front of my friends
f) when they criticize me too much or unfairly
g) other:
4. When do you get along best with
your parent(s)?
a) when I do something they are proud of—like win an award, do
well in school, play a sport well
b) when we do something together that we all like and no one
has something better to do
c) After a
family meeting or counseling, when we are all trying to get along
d) playing a game, sports, vacationing together
e) never
f) other:
5. If your parent(s) sat and
really listened to you without any threat of punishment or judgment, what would
they learn about you and your life that they don’t know now?
a) that I have a life of my own
b) that I’m a good friend and give good advice
c) that I’m not stupid and I’ll ask for advice when I need it
d) that I’m a teenager and I have to handle my own problems
whenever possible
e) that I am responsible and doing the best I can most of the
time
f) other:
6. What do you think is the #1
complaint your parent(s) have about you?
a) that I don’t do my share around the house
b) that I’m lazy and irresponsible (don’t do my homework, clean
up my room, etc.)
c) that I mouth off at them and don’t respect them
d) that my friends are a bad influence on me
e) that I’m moody and don’t want to talk to them or take their
advice
f) that all I want to do is party and don’t take life seriously
enough
g) other:
7. What is the #1 thing your
parent(s) would like to change about the way you treat them?
a) They want
me to do what they say and not argue with them.
b) They
want me to treat them respectfully and stop yelling at them and saying hurtful
things.
c) They
want me to stop criticizing them and appreciate the positive things they do for
me.
d) They
want me to trust them by talking to them about my feelings and what’s going on
in my life.
e) other:
8. Why do you think your parents
get mad at you?
a) because I’m not perfect and I don’t meet their high
standards
b) because I refuse to do what they tell me to
c) because I mouth off at them and don’t treat them with
respect
d) because they’re afraid for me and worry about me when I take
risks
e) because they’re stressed out about work and have to take it
out on someone
f) other:
9. Do you talk to your parents about:
Why?
Why not?
10. Do you trust and respect your
parents? Is so, why? If not, why not?
11. Name three ways you see that
you can improve your relationship with your parents.
1.
2.
3.
12. Name three ways your parents
can improve their relationship with you.
1.
2.
3.
13. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being
highest), how important is it to you to have a good relationship with your
parents? Why?
14. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being
highest), how do you rank your relationship with your parents right now?
15. What are some of the high-risk
behaviors you have personally been involved with:
a) Taking
drugs (please specify which)
b) Riding
in cars at fast speeds
c) Driving
with someone who is under the influence of either alcohol or drugs
(please specify)
d) Taking
physical risks such as diving off high cliffs, leaning out of moving cars,
lying down on highways, etc. (Please specify)
e)
Drinking to the point of blacking out
f) Other:
If you have any comments about your experience taking this test (e.g.
you saw something you could do to make things better at home) please let us
know in the space below. Thanks for taking the time to take our
quiz. If you leave us your email address, we’ll send you an announcement
of the publication of the book in the near future.
The form below must be filled out
for identification purposes to assure the authors that a teenager ages 13-19
completed this questionnaire. We guarantee that this information is for
verification purposes only and will not be sold, lent, or distributed in any
way.
Full Name of Teen:
Age:
Grade:
School Attending (or attended) and
year of graduation:
City and State of school:
Phone number of school:
Email of teen:
For further information on the
project, call the
Thank you,
Abby Lederman, M.Ed.