1. You have a penis. It comes with responsibilities.
2. Girls have vaginas. If you’re not careful, you can create responsibilities.
3. I don’t care who you love, as long as you try to love that person with your whole heart.
4. Read books; real books with words on paper and pages.
5. Everyone has the same insecurities you do. Some people just hide them better.
6. It takes incredible courage to earnestly approach someone you are attracted to.
7. It is not being lazy to unplug, sit in the dark and think.
8. Making someone swoon is overrated. Instead, make that person laugh, and think, and even cry. That is the path to the human heart.
9. Childhood classmates and acquaintances thought Elvis was weird.
10. He WAS weird; and he was creative, and different, and brave, and dynamic.
11. Elvis died on a toilet. And Hemingway shot himself. And Van Gogh cut off his ear AND shot himself, and so on and so forth; which only goes to say that sometimes creativity takes a toll, and these titans of their times probably did not feel like giants when they died.
12. Everyone has a story, many of them are sad.
13. Real men CAN cry. Just not all the time. And don’t use the phrase “real men”.
14. “Overnight success” usually involves a sex tape or a rich daddy. You will have neither.
15. Work hard, but only if you are passionate about the work. If not, find something else.
16. Math sucks.
17. You will face all kinds of bullies during your life. The only trick to dealing with them is whether you can live with yourself after those encounters.
18. Pride can get you killed.
19. Lack of pride can destroy your soul.
20. Play sports as long as you can; and know there is no such thing as really winning, there is only playing the game again and again.
21. Never say “It is going to be all right” to someone who is grieving. At that moment, it isn’t.
22. Your opinion belongs to you. No one else owns it. No one else can take it. Share it with abandon or caution, the choice is yours.
23. Changing your mind after careful inspection is the perfect indication of wisdom and intelligence.
24. A pet you don’t pay for will return huge dividends in gratitude.
25. Don’t be afraid to moisturize.
26. Your father is a wise man.
27. His father was a wiser man.
28. Observe how people treat strangers. It is the most accurate reflection of who they are.
29. Study religions different from your own.
30. At your funeral no one will say, “He had a really nice house.” Or, shame on you if they do.
31. Lip synching sucks worse than math. Sing out, damn it, no matter how bad it sounds.
32. Hold the door for everyone.
33. Find a “go-to” dish that you can cook really well. And learn about wine, even if you don’t drink it.
34. Don’t interrupt.
35. The people who surround you will shape who you are.
36. I found mine, but the “love of your life” will be an investment. No matter how wonderful it is, you will work on that relationship every single day you are together.
37. People talk too much. The people talking the most usually have the least to say. (The people who make lists are the worst.)
38. There’s nothing wrong with disco, if it makes you feel good.
39. Live in the moment.
40. The moment is often gone before you knew it was there.
41. Smile for no reason whatsoever.
42. When in doubt, love is the answer.
Brilliant.
Wise mother 🙂
Reblogged this on HarsH ReaLiTy and commented:
What a great list for a future son. Thanks for sharing it! -OM
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You are the man. Thanks for the help…
Thanks for sharing the post. 🙂
Absolutely loved this!!
Thanks!
As the mother of two almost teenage boys, I appreciated this and enjoyed it very much (had some laughs, too). Great job!
Reblogged this on Bipolar-Reb and commented:
A list I`ll use when and if I have sons
What a great list. Wise and stated with humour, too 🙂
Fabulous when my son gets home this will be taped to his favourite guitar 😛 thankfully he already knows many of these but a little reinforcement never hurt
Great post! I only raised girls, but we were all fortunate that they found men like your sons will be. The girls your sons choose will be very lucky ladies.
That is kind of you to say. Thank you… I have one girl. Shes the toughest of the lot… and she lives life. She might be the death of me. Shes a whole new list.
Love all of them but really have to wonder about 37. I don’t see my friends very often but when I do there is much to talk about and so I talk. And lists are good. Without lists I’d be a menopausal mess. lol
Yes… but I bet your friends listen to what you say. And you listen to what they say. I guess I’m saying that listening is kind of a key point of a conversation. . And yet lots of people dont seem to know that.
Oh yes. Most definitely. Listening is definitely something that we need to do more of. Although I’m sure there are days at sewing group where the other ladies wish they could take my batteries out lol
Ha! I suspect you have earned your stage time. Its a little different with close friends.
Beautiful. My sons are nearly teens now. Great advice.
Thanks! Good luck with the fellas.
Love #28
Thanks! We could use a lot more of that one.
Reblogged this on ILOVELIFE and commented:
awesome man
7, 13, 39, 41. Awesome post.
Thanks!
I have two teenage girls. How can I modify the list?
I have one and I don’t even know where to begin… I’ll have her list soon.
A perfect end to the list 🙂 Loved them.
This was very funny and yet so true! Some pointers on there I’ve written down to teach to my brother (as I am only 18 years old and don’t plan on having a kid anytime soon).
Thanks and keep that brother straight!
haha! I don’t have a teenage son but I have a brother who is about 3 years away from being a teenager so I would have to teach him about all those, or get my mum to. However I love your article!
Reposted on Facebook. However, I do make lists. Sorry.
Thanks and so does my wife. We are all doing the best we can.
Excellent advice. Especially numbers one and two! No matter how ‘careful’ you are, there is always the chance of creating more responsibilities. Meaning that sex itself is a great responsibility.
Well said.
Reblogged this on Facebook Taught Me Everything About Parenting and commented:
Some great advice worth checking out. Please like/comment the original post.
I like it. I really like it. I share many of these feelings. Except the math I love math, and it might be difficult but that doesn’t mean it sucks. I may have a list of my own now.
Get that list going then. I’ve caught some flack about the math since my kids love it too. I’m hopeless when it comes to numbers. Thanks.
List is done. Numbers do present their challenges for some, so I understand your frustration. Here is my shameless plug: http://wp.me/p3cMkB-5P
Loved it Charles…it’s brilliant…I was rolling on the floor…and the first two points were…legen…wait for it…dery…great post 😀
Thanks! Knowing my boys I guess I should have put something about rolling on the floor on there, too.
I loved the entire list but I was wondering how certain are you that the people who talk the most have the least to say? 🙂 found it interesting cause I find myself a talkative person but not in the empty meaningless conversation kind of way. 🙂 Loved the list though 😀
Yep, the talkative people have been after me on this one. There’s nothing wrong with being talkative as long as you also communicate. I guess I was saying that communication is a two way street. Thanks.
Yeahh that’s veryyyy truuue hahaha didn’t mean to attack u on it was just curious of what you thought 🙂
Overall I really enjoyed reading this article 🙂 it was fun and true 🙂 maybe one day when I have kids I’ll refer back to this 🙂
Reblogged this on Courage Is Not An Option. and commented:
Inspirational, this is the right way to teach your children x
What a great list. Wisdom to be passed down to the ages.
Thank you!
I ❤ This
Thanks!