#117 - Asking Permission Do's and Don'ts

Asking Permission Do's and Don'ts

> You do

Accept a "no" when you hear it.

> You don't

Whine, complain, and moan when you don't get your way.

> Why

Your brother may have a good reason for not letting you use his bike. While it might seem unfair, it is best not to make a scene. You also stand a better chance of his saying yes the next time if you accept his refusal calmly, as a gentleman would do.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#116 - Asking Permission Do's and Don'ts

Asking Permission Do's and Don'ts

> You Do

Ask anytime you are not sure if something is acceptable for you to do.

> You Don't

Figure it is easier to beg to be forgiven later, rather than ask permission now.

> Why

If you want to stay out an hour later than your normal curfew, it is better to ask beforehand, rather than just staying out and hoping your parents will be OK with it. If you don't ask their permission, you'll be running the risk of worrying them and of being punished for your poor judgement. If you ask permission beforehand, you are showing your parents that you respect them and, at the same time, you are giving them an opportunity to show that they trust you. If you ask them for little things instead of doing things without permission - like staying out an extra hour - then, when you get older, you'll stand a better chance of getting permission for bigger privileges, like a weekend trip with your friends.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#115 - Asking Permission

Asking Permission

You may think that when you get older you won't have to ask permission to do what you want to do.

Wrong.

The only changes will be the type of things that you have to ask permission to do. Right now, you might have to ask your dad if you can go to the movies with your buddies. But your dad may also have to ask your mom if he can go on a golf weekend with his buddies, and your mom may have to ask her boss if she can change her work hours. See, it never changes.

But one thing that you can do now is learn how to ask for permission and how to react appropriately if you don't get what you want. It will work for you for the rest of your life.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#114 - Jimmy Connors Quote

"I hate to lose more than I like to win."

Jimmy Connors

Tennis Pro

#113 - Charles Wilkinson Quote

"If you're going to be a champion, you must be willing to pay a greater price than your opponent will ever pay."

Charles "Bud" Wilkinson

Former Coach, Oklahoma Football

#112 - Psalm 33:12

America was built not by politicians running for something, but by statesman standing for something.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."

Psalm 33:12

-Love Dad

#111 - Character

People seem not to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character.

-Love Dad

#110 - The Line

Stand up for the sanctity of the line.

Whether the jerk tries it with his car or his own feet, his butting in line is a grievous insult. He's saying that his time is more valuable than yours, and everyone else's in the line. Deny him. Hard. The mob will back you.

-Love Dad

#109 - Be Early

Be on time, or better yet, be early.
Good things happen when you turn up early and opportunities which may not have presented themselves had you arrived on time can be seized and enjoyed.

-Love Dad

#108 - Be Careful What You Put in Writing

Be careful what you put in writing, you can't take it back.

excerpt from: 1001 rules for my unborn son

#107 - Foul Language

Watch your language at the ballgame.

excerpt from: 1001 rules for my unborn son

Happy Birthday!

Happy 1st Birthday
Turner and Jaxson!

You guys are awesome and I love you!

#106 - Other People

If a young gentleman does not understand another person's behavior, he asks his parents - or another adult - about it. But he waits until they are in private before he requests an explanation.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#105 - Other People

If a gentleman is confused because another person's behavior is different from what he has been taught to do, he does not make fun of that person. He never calls attention to someone else's behavior in a public setting.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#104 - Saying Ma'am and Sir Do's and Don'ts

Saying "ma'am" and "sir" Do's and Don'ts

> You Do

Respect the regional differences among people who live in different parts of the country and the world.

> You Don't

Make fun of people because their traditions are different from yours or because they speak with an accent that doesn't sould like most of the people you know.

> Why

Different is not wrong. It is simply different. If you go through life making fun of everybody who is different from you, you will miss out on a lot of great experiences.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#103 - Saying Ma'am and Sir Do's and Don'ts

Saying "ma'am" and "sir" Do's and Don'ts

> You Do

Answer questions adults ask you with kindness and respect. "Yes, thank you" or "Yes, sir" are both correct.

> You Don't

Answer with a simple "Nope" or "Yep."

> Why

Every person, not just the adults in your life, deserves a respectful response to questions they ask.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#102 - Saying Ma'am and Sir

Saying "Ma'am" and "Sir"

In some parts of the country, young gentleman are brought up to say "ma'am" and "sir" when they are talking to older people. In other places, people never say "ma'am" or "sir."

If you live in Maine and you are visiting you grandmother in Georgia, you might think it sounds stupid when you hear your cousins saying "ma'am" and "sir." But if you're from Georgia and are visiting your grandmother in Maine, you might think your cousins are being rude when they answer by simply saying "yes" or "no."

It is not so important what you say, but how you say it. If what you say is said with kindness and respect, it will be the right thing to say.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#101 - How to Throw a Football

How to Throw a Football

No matter if you dream of becoming the next Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or just want to be able to beat up the in-laws at your annual Thanksgiving Day game, learning how to throw a football properly will take plenty of practice, but it is a fairly simple process.

To begin, you should buy a football that is compatible with your age and hand size. If you are trying to learn how to throw a football using an over-sized ball you could cause arm and muscle strain, for one. And for two, you will not be able to maintain control over your throws, causing arrant passes.

Taking the time to warm your arm up with easy throws will reduce the chances of muscle strain.


Step 1-
Hold your hand out with your fingers spread naturally apart. Grip the football by placing your pinky, ring, and middle fingers between the football's laces and seams. Your index finger and thumb should be towards the butt of the ball, but NOT on the laces.


Step 2-
Give the football a few good squeezes to get comfortable with the feel and weight of the ball. Every good Quarterback strives for the perfect grip. Gripping a football too tightly will cause decreased ball control and can affect your release, and the same rules apply for a loose grip.


Step 3-Depending on which handed you are, hold the ball up high near your ear. Use your opposite hand to pad the ball for protection and pull your throwing arm back.


Step 4-
Extend your free arm in front of you for balance and use it to point at your target. (For a right-handed passer, your left leg and foot are considered to be your front foot and leg, and should be used to point at your intended target also.)


Step 5-
Maintain level shoulders for shorter passes or dip the shoulder of your throwing arm and apply more strength to throwing the football farther.


Step 6-Shift your weight as evenly as possible at your release point. Just over half of your weight should be on your front foot upon release. (Stepping into your throws will come with practice and create greater velocity on your throws.)


Step 7-
Beginners should find their natural release point. Release points for close range targets will vary from release points to targets that are further away.


Step 8-This isn't really a step as much as solid words of advice; practice, practice, and more practice. Getting your timing down is very important to tossing pretty looking passes and learning how to throw a football properly.

excerpt from: Helium.com

#100 - Hot or Cool

Pursue a woman, not because she is so hot, but because she is so cool.

-Love Dad

#99 - Tommy Lasorda Quote

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination."

Tommy Lasorda
Former Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers

#98 - Cus D'Amato Quote

"To see a man beaten not by a better opponent but by himself is a tragedy."

Cus D'Amato
Boxing Trainer

#97 - Matthew 6:20

Remember what you possess in the world will be found at the day of your death to belong to another, but what you are will be yours forever.

"Store your treasures in Heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal."

Matthew 6:20

#96 - Proverbs 21:26

No person was ever honored for what he received.

Honor has been the reward for what he gave.

"All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back."

Proverbs 21:26 (English Standard Version)

-Love Dad

#95 - Turn Failure into Wisdom

Successful people never fail, because they turn their failures into wisdom.

excerpt from: Love and Logic for Early Childhood

#94 - Umbrellas

If it looks like rain, carry an umbrella.
She'll thank you.

excerpt from: 1001 rules for my unborn son

#93 - Family Tree

Explore the branches of your family tree. You never know what you might find.

excerpt from: 1001 rules for my unborn son

#92 - Introductions

A gentleman always introduces the younger person to the older person. He says, "Dad, this is Michael." He does not say, "Michael, this is my dad." That works on every occasion, not just with your parents. For example, it's right to say, "Grandpa, this is Michael." It's wrong to say, "Michael, this is my grandpa."

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#91 - Introducing Your Friends to Your Parents Do's and Don'ts

Introducing Your Friends to Your Parents - Do's & Don'ts

>You Do

Feel free to add something interesting about your parents when you introduce your friends to them. You might say, "My dad used to play third base too," or "My mom had Mr. Caldwell as a principal. She said he was mean back then, too."

>You Don't

Assume your parents are simply going to go away once you've made your introduction. They are going to want to get to know your friends.

>Why

When you lead the introduction process, you get to control the conversation. That way, there will be a much smaller chance that unfortunate topics, such as your bad report card or girlfriends, will come up. It is good to be in charge, once in a while. This can be the moment when you really impress your parents, and your friends.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#90 - Introducing Your Friends to Your Parents Do's and Don'ts

Introducing Your Friend's to Your Parents - Do's & Don'ts

>You Do

Say, "Dad, this is Michael. He's on my baseball team." Or "Mom, I'd like you to meet Jessica. We go to school together."

>You Don't

Just say, "Dad, this is Michael." Or "Mom, this is Jessica."

>Why

When you give your parents a little information about your friends, it gives them a chance to say something that doesn't make you feel uncomfortable - something like, "So Michael, what position do you play?" Give your parents a break. They are probably much more interesting that you think, and having parents your friends like is a great thing for you.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#89 - Introducing Your Friends to Your Parents

Introducing Your Friends to Your Parents

Your parents don't want to run your life. But they do have the right to ask a few questions.

Let's say they run into you at the mall or in the park, and see you talking to someone they do not know. If you just wave at your mom or dad and then go on talking with your friend, your parents may be thinking, "That's a cute girl. I wonder if she's his girlfriend? I bet she'd make a lovely daughter-in-law and their children would be beautiful." Or they may be thinking, "That kid looks like trouble. I think I saw him on the 10 o'clock news last night." Or they might be thinking, "This child I raised from a baby has no manners. I have failed terribly." (And that would be the worst thing possible.)

You don't want them thinking any of these things - especially about the girl. But it can be easy to nip that idea in the bud.

You definitely don't want your parents coming over to you and saying something like, "Scott must not want us to meet you. Just how do you know our son?" Or, "Our son obviously has no manners. Hi, I'm Scott's mom." Or the worst: "Well, since Scott won't introduce us, I will just have to assume that you are his girlfriend."

You can stop all of this very easily if you just start introducing your friends to your parents. It is really painless, and, if you do it right away, they'll have less time to think of something that will embarrass you.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#88 - Church

Merely going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.

-Love Dad

#87 - 1 John 3:18

People may doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do.

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18 (New International Version)

-Love Dad