10 Questions for Mom from the Kids

When I was thinking about this article theme I was very excited. Here was the perfect opportunity for my four daughters to get to know me a little better, as well as a chance for some honest dialogue and connecting on a new level. Boy, was I reading more into the situation that was warranted! As most normal children are prone to do, my girls wiggled and looked at me blankly saying things like, "Geez, mom, I already know all about you, you're like, a mom."

Slowly however, perhaps due to the fact that they realized I wasn't going to make dinner until we've had our "talk," they started thinking of things they wanted to know about me. The types of questions they had weren't the deepest, nor were they the types of things I had anticipated. However, it was fun, and it helped me understand a little bit how my kids see me and what interests them.

I think if I were to do this again I would give my kids a day or two of warning. If you try this, let your kids know you want them to think up some questions for you - and give parameters if you have them. Tell your children that you want to talk about your childhood, or what your day-to-day life is like and that you would like each of them to come up with a couple of questions.

I think that part of my daughters' problem was that I hit them with the request out of the blue and they honestly just couldn't think of anything they wanted to know at that time. Once they thought about it they came up with the following questions:

1. When did you get to drive a car?
2. Did you have a favorite TV show as a kid?
3. Did you do all your homework when you were a kid?
4. Do you eat lunch out every day when we are at school?
5. Why don't you like Jell-O?
6. Did you always want four girl kids?
7. Why don't you wear lipstick?
8. What are those books about that you read all the time?
9. Why do you get a lock on your door and we don't?
10. Do you have bad dreams or good dreams?

I decided to take these questions, and my corresponding answers, and create a scrapbook layout. I found some recent photographs of myself, taken by my 10-year-old. I chose a blue and tan color scheme and started fishing in my stash of supplies for embellishments. I didn't want the journaling to get lost in all the lumpy, bumpy, chunky and flashy embellishments I tend to use - so I purposefully toned down the layout and stuck to a few key elements that I felt were representative of myself and my style.

Supplies:

• cardstock - Bazzill and Paper Accents
• patterned paper - Boy Stripe, Den Collection by Chatterbox
• computer font - CK Constitution
• square punch - Marvy Uchida
• title font - Base Camp, Cricut by Provo Craft
• small title letters - K&Co.
• pocket and "Remember" definition-- Making Memories
• white gel pen - Signo, Uni-Ball
• textured cardstock stickers - unknown
• peacock feather, vintage lace - unknown

With a little planning, I think this type of question format could be the basis for a wonderful mini album. Start off with the questions from your children, or even from your spouse or someone else important in your life. Next locate photos that correspond to those questions. A simple accordion album or an altered board book album would be a wonderful choice for this type of project.

If you were to ask your children to think of questions about their grandparents or another special family member you could then use this format to create a gift album for Mother's or Father's Day, an anniversary, or a special birthday. Start off with the questions and then follow up by interviewing the individual. Put it all together into a very special, personalized gift album. I think this would be a lovely way for your children to learn about their grandparents or a beloved older relative.

I think the key to success when interviewing kids is not to go into it with a lot of expectations. Let it be a casual type of thing - that way your kids don't feel as though you put them on them on the spot. Give them some advance warning and let their little imaginations go to work. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the types of things your kids wonder about.

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