Read an Excerpt
I am a Good Boy
Essential Life Lessons for Young Boys
By Reuben Freeman AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2013Reuben Freeman
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4817-2370-1
Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
"Respect At Home"
It is necessary, it is important, it is vital and it is respectful to show respect for your parents at all times.
Your grandparents are the parents of your parents, therefore they must be given the utmost respect.
You must always address your grandfather in this way, "yes grandpa" or "no grandpa," or by the name the family customarily calls grandpa or grandma.
You must always address your grandmother in this way, "yes, grandma" or "no grandma." – "good morning grandma" or "good afternoon grandma," you should never answer "yes" or "no," always use grandpa or grandma in your reply.
Your parents should be addressed in the same manner – "yes dad" or "nodad," "yes mom" or "no mom," or whatever the preferred name in your home is.
Always attempt to greet your grandparents, if they live with you, before you leave home in the morning. Always treat your grandparents with Honor.
Depending on their age and mobility, ask them before you leave home for school in the morning, if they need a glass of water, a glass of juice, the morning papers, the window shades open or closed, or an item from the store.
Your parents must receive the ultimate respect as well. Your parents have total responsibility for your health, welfare, and safety.
It is their responsibility, as your parents, to feed you, shelter you, protect you, and educate you.
In return, your responsibilities are as follows: -
1. Be respectful at all times, to your parents.
2. Be respectful to your teachers, at all times – you actually spend about one third of the day, five days a week, with your teachers – your teachers are responsible for you, while your parents are at work
3. Be respectful to your grandparents.
4. Be respectful to all elders in the home – brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts.
5. Go to school everyday – be on time for all classes.
6. Read – read – read – study – study – study.
7. Pass all tests or exams.
8. Always help your parents with tasks at home – make the bed – sweep the floor – mop the floor – wash the dishes – take out the garbage – separate the garbage in recyclable and non-recyclable – mixing of the garbage carries a fine, in certain cities and towns. Save that fine ,about $100 in some places, which can be used to buy something for the home, or to pay a bill.
9. Always be an excellent representative (represent) of your family – do nothing that would bring shame, ridicule, embarrassment, or disgrace on your family.
Be respectful of the Law – do not challenge the Law.
CHAPTER 2
"Chores – Chores – Chores"
What is a chore? A chore is work in the house, and sometimes outside the home, that mom and dad normally do.
Actually it is their responsibility to get those things done. Chores are simple tasks such as sweeping – vacuuming – washing the dishes – taking out the garbage – sweeping the floor – sweeping the leaves from the sidewalk – washing your dirty clothes – making up the bed – changing the sheets.
None of these chores is "Woman's or Girl's Work." There is nothing embarrassing about washing the dishes, sweeping the floor, washing your clothes, or doing any chore in the home – this is responsibility.
It is unfair for mom and dad to return home, after travelling and a tiresome day at work, to see a sink full of dirty dishes, unswept floors, unmade beds, and a garbage can overflowing with garbage in the kitchen.
You must show appreciation for what your parents are doing, and the sacrifices they are making to provide the needs of the family.
It is not the respectful thing to do, when you allow your parents to return home from work, to wash dishes, take out garbage, sweep the floor, and prepare your dinner.
It is not girls work to help your parents around the house. Be a responsible son, by assisting your parents at home.
Make your parents proud and happy, when they return home, by helping with the chores.
Your parents may not be able to give you an allowance because of the bills they must pay every month – light bills – phone bills – rent or mortgage – car payments – your cell phone bill – and other expenses.
You can help your parents save money, if they are the owners of the house you live in.
All homeowners, by law, must keep their sidewalks clean – free of garbage.
Every homeowner, must put the garbage, on the sidewalk, on the appropriate day, to be picked up by the Sanitation Department.
IN certain cities and towns, the garbage must be in the right containers, and must be separated in recyclable, and nonrecyclable.
All garbage, especially from the kitchen, must be covered to prevent dogs, cats, and rats from feeding on the garbage.
Rat infestation can occur if garbage with unwanted food is placed in an open can, in your yard or on the sidewalk. Cover the garbage and save the fines.
In the winter season, homeowners are also responsible for keeping the sidewalk directly in front of their homes, free of snow and ice.
Why are they responsible for keeping the sidewalk free of snow and ice? It is the Law.
If a pedestrian slips and falls, on the snow or ice, and hurts himself as a result of that fall – fractured foot, or a broken hand or rib, or any other injury, the homeowner can be sued by that person for pain and suffering, medical bills and possible loss of income, as a result of falling on the ice or snow on the sidewalk, in front of that house.
Your parents can suffer tremendous financial losses, if such an incident should happen because you did not assist in removing the snow and ice from the sidewalk – your parents must pay the penalty as ordered by the Court.
CHAPTER 3
"Keep Your Family Informed Of Your Whereabouts At All Times"
"Always tell a family member where you are going, before you leave home."
It is very important that mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, brother, or sister, know where you are at any time of the day or night. You can also leave a note, or a message on their phones. Why is this important? If there is a family emergency, or a natural disaster such as a hurricane, flood, or earthquake, your family will know where to find you.
If there is an allegation against you, your parents, or other family member can be your alibi–they can verify that you were at a different location than the one where the alleged incident occurred.
An "alibi" is a confirmation, proof, or witness to an event in time and place. For example, if you were accused of stealing a pair of sneakers at 5:00 P.M. on a certain day, at a certain time, but you were at the dentist on that same day, at the same time, then your "alibi" is your visit to the dentist, and the dentist himself.
Always tell someone where you are going – parents who want to know where their children are, are not "Helicopter Parents" – they are loving parents, concerned parents, who care about the safety of their children.
CHAPTER 4
"You Must Respect Your Peers"
You must respect one another, in school, and out of school – on the basketball court – on the football or baseball or soccer field – on the block – at a party – at the mall – at the movies – or any other place –
(Continues...)
Excerpted from I am a Good Boy by Reuben Freeman. Copyright © 2013 by Reuben Freeman. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
