"Everyone is "Everyone is always saying, 'Talk to your kids; they're listening.'
They should say, listen to your kids; they're talking ...''

"WhatIWishYouKnew.com" consists of writings of teens of all ages and from all over the world. It has been our privilege to be able to share some of their thoughts, advice and stories.

No matter where they live, kids tell us that they want to help people, particularly their parents, understand some of the stresses and challenges they go through growing up in the 21st Century.

Thank you to the many teens who have been willing to share some of your ideas. Parents are interested and many will benefit from hearing what you have to say. Interest has been great, so great in fact that we are now working on a book by kids for parents, so stay tuned! It is our hope that there will be fewer adults left saying, "If only we had known..." or "What in the world were you thinking?"

This website has been blessed with a wonderful team of advisors, both professionals and students. Some of them offer the following bits of advice.

Communication between adults and kids can be tricky, frustrating, confusing and full of surprises. It can also be informative, comforting, gratifying and should always be nurtured and encouraged. But when talking within the family is not enough to solve problems, both teens and adults are encouraged to seek additional support and help from school staff, pediatricians and mental health professionals that practice in community agencies, hospitals and clinics.

If you are a teen with something on your mind, don’t be afraid to write it down or tell someone and share it. Teens have valuable insights that can help others.

If you are a parent, listen to your children. As one sage writer on this website put it, “Please take some time out of your hectic, and sometimes too busy lives to sit down and just listen to what we have to say. Everybody is always saying, talk to your kids, they’ll listen. They should say, listen to your kids, they’re talking.”

Click on any of the images below for some ideas to discuss.

© WhatIWishYouKnew, LLC, 2006.  All rights reserved.