Author Ellen Galinsky asked children, “If you could change the way your mother’s or father’s work affects your life, what would you wish to change?” She also asked parents to predict their children’s response to the question. The surprising answers are contained in her book, Ask the Children.

Most parents thought their children would say they wanted more time with mom and/or dad. The fact is only 10% of child respondents said they would like to spend more time with mom, and 15% wanted more time with dad.

So what headed the most-wanted list for children? Most children said what they really wanted was for their parents to be less stressed and tired when they did spend time together. Only 2% or parents guessed that their children might respond this way.

                                                            Taken from Health Sentry, Volume 18, Issue 2