Do Your Kids Appreciate You?

"Mom, stop writing notes on my napkin! It's embarrassing."

"Sam wanted to trade sandwiches with me today, but I said, ‘No.' You always make the best!"

"Mom, can we get some of those mini soda cans for lunch this week?"

After a failed door-to-door effort (the kids complained it was too hot after the second house), you appeal to co-workers and fellow church members.

You buy the darn things yourself. You've learned from past experience: Your kids have zero interest in sales (as do you).

You struggle to keep up with those fast little legs! They're halfway down the block raking in cash before you can even get the leash all the way on the dog.

To drop off another load picked up off the bedroom floor

To offer to help out by separating colors

To remind you that it's her week on the chore chart, and she does the wash instead

You quiz him on spelling terms until he knows them all 100 percent and is sure to ace the test!

You start by helping, and halfway through realize he's tricked you into doing most of the work

You get into a shouting match, and he declares that he will NEVER understand how to divide fractions (if only to spite you)

That's NOT the shirt you sent her to school in that morning! Where did she get that thing?

Oh look, he smiled! You begged him to actually smile for the pictures, and he did!

Well, the clothes look all right, but her hair's a mess.

Pushing the cart while you scroll down their separate lists. Every now and then, you ask one for an opinion on which notebook or case they'd prefer. But, for the most part, they're following the leader (you).

They're at home watching TV. You've all come to realize over the years that this is just easier to do without them.

Gleefully running up and down aisles with their lists while you watch the cart fill. You remove the occasional over-the-top purchase — the glitter pens, for example — but other than minimal supervision, you're really just the wheels in this operation.

Your son has developed a strong dislike for blueberries — one that you suspect has something to do with his recent 13th birthday. It seems to have made him develop a sudden strong dislike for a lot of things.

Your kids eat an entire muffin tray's worth. You hope their stomachs aren't too full for lunch later.

Your daughter takes a bite of one, tells you it's delicious, then gets distracted by a text message and leaves it half-eaten on the table.

He gets out, promises to call you as soon as it's over, and waves goodbye as he exits the car

He asks you to drop him off a couple of blocks away so he won't be seen with you

He gets out quickly, has no time for "goodbye," and faces straight ahead as he walks to his group of friends

Your kids — when they remember. But you keep an eye on the food and water dishes, and have to fill them up more than you'd like to admit.

It's basically YOUR dog now. You take care of it almost entirely. You've tried reminding your kids about the responsibility, but, kids, well, they get busy and can't be expected to remember everything.

You have a pretty decent schedule set up for who feeds the dog on what days, and the kids actually do a great job of keeping track!

Adoration

Disgust/horror

Amusement

Cooked you your favorite meal for dinner, complete with birthday cake!

Gave you jewelry they made in class earlier that week

Wished you "happy birthday" late in the afternoon — you think their father reminded them about it

She's annoyed. Those boots were cool a few months ago, but now her friends are all wearing something else.

She's puzzled. She doesn't remember mentioning she wanted boots, even after you remind her of the occasion several times.

She's ecstatic! She can't believe you remembered!

Your kids complain that they don't like the flavor of popsicles you brought — and, of course, the other kids follow their lead.

Your daughter helps pass out Fig Newtons and Powerades, and helps herself after everyone else has theirs.

Your son grabs for the goodies — you bought his favorite. You have to remind him they're for sharing.

Showing her friends where they can lay out their mats and where the snacks are. This is going to be fun!

By asking you, for the millionth time, whether or not you can get a pony for everyone to ride. The answer is "no."

By pouting. She decided last week she's gotten too old for Girl Scouts, and this slumber party is SO uncool.

Well, for the first two weeks they were pretty good about it. But last weekend you woke up to them trying to "play quietly."

Not a peep! And it's a great thing, too. You'd hate to have to take away ping-pong privileges.

You've since invested in a great pair of earplugs.