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What Would Your Kids Say If They Reviewed You as a Parent?

What Would Your Kids Say If They Reviewed You as a Parent?

The answers were honest, funny, and a little uncomfortable. From bedtime battles to screen time wars, here's what I got

May 14, 2026

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Hi there,

Hope you all had a lovely Mother’s Day! A few years ago, my younger son had to do a Mother's Day project at school.

The assignment was to describe your mom and he wrote: "She cleans all day."

That's it, that was his whole impression of me.

It somewhat makes sense because when he was younger he would see me cleaning, doing the dishes or picking up clothes. All day, and no, I don't actually enjoy cleaning. I just need things to get done. This disconnect between what kids think we're doing and what's actually happening is really funny.

It also made me think that if kids ever get a chance to review us parents, what would that look like? I think I would get at least a 4 star review (out of 5 or maybe 10), so I decided to ask myself the hard questions and now I'm asking you the same ones.

Let's see how honest we can get.

QUESTION 1: If your kids had to describe you after a typical day, what would they say?

For me, every day is a little different, but yeah by the end of the day, I'm exhausted. They'd probably say I'm always like, "I'm just tired. Can you just get on it?"

I think we can all relate to that.

QUESTION 2: What's something your kids complain about you doing often?

Mine would say harassing them about screens. Limited screen time is important for me and they get irritated when I remind them to put the laptop and tablets away.

QUESTION 3: What's one rule in your house your kids would remove immediately?

Bedtime. In our household, it's a battle. Every. Single. Day.

QUESTION 4: Has your child ever said something about you that made you pause or laugh?

My younger son is always saying I'm "so squishy." He likes holding me which is sweet, but also, he's basically calling me fat.

QUESTION 5: When do you think your kids feel you're being too strict?

Screens, I would say. In the back of their heads, I think they know we're not too strict. But when we take their gadgets away or limit their time? Yeah, we're irritating.

Also, physical activity. My husband is big on this, "You have to get outside. You have to play. You have to move."

They get so frustrated with us. But I know it's one of those things they'll appreciate later.

QUESTION 6: What's something you do that you think they'll appreciate only when they grow up?

Not giving my 13-year-old a phone with cell service.

He asks constantly. "Can I get one now?" All his friends have one. He thinks we're being unreasonable though all the research says don't do it. So we're waiting as long as possible. He uses an old phone at home that only works when connected to wifi, but that’s about it.

I think he'll appreciate it later. At least I hope he will.

QUESTION 7: If your kids could give you advice as a parent, what would it be?

Honestly? I don't know. I don't know what they'd say but I’ll definitely ask and report back on this, you do the same.

Inside the Laid-back Parents' Internet History This Week:

🔖 READ: What Kids Wished Their Parents Knew

🔖 READ: 4 Things That Kids Wish Their Parents Knew

🔖 READ:Positive Parenting: See Things Through Their Eyes

Note for My Fellow Laid-Back Parents

If you're reading this and cringing a little at your own answers, you're not alone.

We nag about screens and bedtime and food because we have to enforce rules they hate because we know they need them.

Sometimes, the disconnect will feel huge but they notice more than we think.

They notice when we're tired. They notice when we're trying or when we say "no" because we care, even if they hate it in the moment.

So yeah, maybe they'd give us two stars on bedtime enforcement and one star on screen time battles. But deep down, every parent deserves five stars for showing up every single day.

See you next week,
Lakshmi 💛