YMC - Family Communication: words

Building Trust

Positive Encouragement

Healthy Communication

Caring for Each Other

Do teens know that their parents care about them?
Do parents know that their teens care about them?
What we've done to show our parents that we care.

Do teens know that their parents care about them?

Lisa

I know that my parents care about me when I come home from school and they ask me questions. They ask me if I'm hungry, how I'm doing, or what I did today. Sometime it's annoying, but I know that they're concerned about me.
Tenile

When I want something real bad, they eventually get it for me. When I want to eat something for dinner on a specific night, they go and buy the groceries and make it for me. My mother tells me not to eat out a lot because people put a lot of MSG, and she tells me to go home and eat. When I don't drink some specific soup because I want other beverages, my mom makes the only soup that I drink, or force, me to drink some other nutritious soup.
Jason

I know that my parents care about me because they wouldn't be so strict unless they cared about my well-being. They buy me stuff when I do something good. It's close to showing affection and saying good job.
Elaine

I know that my parents care about me because they are always very protective of me. And if they didn't care, they would not ask me so many questions about where I'm going and when I'm coming back.
Janny

I know that my parents care about me because they're raising me right now. They want me to do good and they give me the best of everything, but it's just that I have to earn the things I want. For example, if I want a bike, I would have to exchange that with good grades and good behavior to please them. Then, when they are satisfied with my behavior, they'll let me go to a college out of San Francisco. Right now, they won't let me because they want me to live with them and not go away. Just because of that, I know that my mommy and daddy really love and care about me.
Ben

I really can tell that my parents care about me very much. Wherever I go, they will ask me where I'm going or whom I'm hanging out with. They just want to know because they want to know about my safety, and they want to make sure I'm not doing bad things, like joining a gang. Just by that I can tell that they care about me, but sometimes I really think that they are too annoying.
John

I know when my parents care about me when they give me the things I want. I don't have to bug them for anything. When they hear me mention I want something, then they will buy it for me. When they ask me to find out what's happening with my life, then I know that they care about me.

Do parents know that their teens care about them?

Lisa

My parents know that I care about them because I listen to my parents. I listen to their lectures about how education is important to me. One incident occurred when I received my report card and my dad encouraged me to do better. When the next report card came, I improved my grade point average from a 3.33 to a 3.5. My dad was satisfied with my GPA, but encouraged me to improve my grades again. I try my hardest to listen to them and do what I'm supposed to do.
Tenile

I remember their birthday and those special holidays that are made for them like Mother's Day and Father's Day and get them gifts. One time at my work place, we did a radio show on Mother's day, and at the end of the show we had to say how much we appreciated what our mother did for us. That radio show was aired and my mother heard it and she like it. Sometimes when my mom tells me to do something, I eventually go do it.
Jason

My parents know I care about them because I take time and money to buy them gifts for their birthdays and Mother's/Father's day. I do my best to please their wishes, like working hard in school, and not going out when they need me at home. I always at least try to do what they ask of me.
Elaine

My parents know I care about them because I try to help out at where my mom works by answering the phones, sweeping the floors, and stuff like that. They also know because I massage them when they are tired and go get medicine for them when they are sick. I also go grocery shopping with my mom and help her carry the grocery bags home for her.
Janny

My parents know that I love them because every single day my parents come home late. So I have to make dinner for them. Every single night, I attempt to make a decent dinner for them. I can't cook very well. The food tastes very nasty and it's just·PLAIN NASTY. But my parents still eat it anyway even though they hate the food. They know that I tried, so they give me a chance. Sometimes, I feel that they have had enough of the nasty food I make, so once in a while, I go out and order a dinner for them. I feel very bad because everyday they work so hard and then they have to come home and eat food that taste like crap. I want them to enjoy dinner. My parents know that I care about them because of that.
Ben

I do care about my parents, but I'm not sure if they know that I care about them. Every time they want to talk to me, I just ignore them by walking away or covering up my ears. And sometimes when they ask me to help them do something, I won't do it. I really care about my parents inside of my heart, but physically, I don't show it. I don't know why I'm a such a bad boy at home. I want to change. I will try to talk to them more or help them do something even they don't ask. I want to do that to make them feel better.
John

I do things for my parents a lot. The reason why I do it is because I care about them. Whenever I do things for them, they realize that I care about them. From there I build trust from my parents. Whenever there's any emergency, I'm always there to help and support them.

What we've done to show our parents that we care:

Got a scholarship

Cook for them

Bought something for my mom that I knew she liked

Help out at mom's work

Joke around with them

Help out at home

Take care of my parents when they're sick, even use a wildflower remedy that stings my eyes

Be an obedient son

Eat all the rice that my mom cooks

Park dad's car every day in our very crowded neighborhood, sometimes it takes an hour

Found and helped my dad after he was in an accident

Make eye contact when talking to parents

When I'm asked to do something, I do it immediately

Mom heard me on a radio show, saying how much I appreciated her

Make dinner when mom and dad come home late; when they get sick of my food then I buy them dinner and they eat it even if it's bad

Try to please my parents

Help mom shop for groceries

Help fix things

Give mom and dad massages