1. Don’t talk when mom or dad are talking.

2. Solve your problems with your siblings or I will fix them (and you may not like my solution).

3. Tell your mother that you love her foods, every time she prepares a meal for you.

4. If we pick you up late from a sports practice or club meeting – – – deal with that and have no attitude when you get in the car. Be glad you have a “parenting limo service” that you don’t pay for.

5. Don’t speak so loud that Dad can’t hear his conversation with Mom.

6. Don’t waste Mom and Dad’s money drinking bottled water around the house. As it is, most bottled water IS tap water. Bottled water is no safer than tap water in the US, and several studies have shown that tap water is considered better tasting than bottled water in blind tests. (Blind testing is when people taking the test don’t know if they are drinking tap or bottled water when they say which one tastes better.) Drinking tap water costs about 50 cents a year per person. Drinking the same amount of bottled water costs about $ 1,400 a year. Stop being a fool! One day I want you to be able to say, “My dad didn’t raise a fool!”

7. Don’t touch daddy’s leftover Chinese food or mommy’s dessert.

8. These words work very well: “Hello.” “Good Morning.” “I love you.” “Please.” “Thanks.” “Yes Dad.” “Yes mom.” “Yes sir / ma’am.” “No sir / ma’am.” Use them, use them.

9. Keep your room clean or expect to lose privileges.

10. During family meals at home or when we are in a restaurant: sit up straight; use your fork and knife; close your mouth while chewing; and stay seated until finished.

11. Chew gum with your mouth closed. The world doesn’t want to hear you chew or see gum in your mouth. Good manners for a horse are not good manners for you.

12. Make your bed every day.

13. Put your dirty clothes in the basket.

14. Never tell me that you are bored. For the most part, only boring people get bored.

15. Don’t ask me the same question over and over again … I answer badly when they bother me.

16. When I ask you a question, I want the answer to my question. The more elusive you are, the tougher I get.

17. Don’t be a selfish member of the family.

18. Homework comes first.

19. Don’t lie to me. That leads to all kinds of problems.