Mom Always Told Me

Mom always told me to respect others. I remember going through my snotty teenage years, thinking I knew everything and the world revolved around me. Her words almost every day on the hard wood floors in our entry way, “do to others as you would want them to do to you.” Often I blew this phrase off thinking, what does she know, she is not a teenager today. Respect was something that was a priority in my family. Not only did we hold respect for each other, but also for those outside of our family circle. Looking back now and seeing the attitudes I pulled with my parents, it is hard to believe the lack of respect I had for them. Today though it has really grown onto me, that phrase she once said. I look back now at younger kids seeing the way they treat others. Or even people my age today, the disrespect for family members and friends. I say to myself, I would not dare talk to my mother like that.” Respect is something I value in all of my life now. I expect respect from friends, family, peers, and even professors. I believe if I give them the respect I have been so forcefully taught growing up, then they should do the same for me. It gets difficult at times when you try so hard to keep that respect for some. They obviously did not learn this same lesson growing up. All I can do is sit back, ignore them, and remember what my mom had said years ago. Something I hope to pass on to others too.
You are fourteen, a know it all, snotty teenager. Stop right there, can’t you say hi? I am your mother don’t you know. I do everything for you, why do you have no respect? I buy you thinks, take you places, do anything you want. And I don’t even receive a simple hi? Come with us tonight, we are going to dinner together. No you say? You would rather be with friends. Throw your hissy fit, you are still coming. You show no respect. Why don’t you have respect? If you show respect you will receive respect. I will stop you from now on and remind you of that. You are getting older now. The attitude is slowly dissipating. Respect is coming from you. Do you show respect to all?
These were words that have stuck with me my whole life. I sure do remember going through those teenage years, thinking I was the only one in the world that existed. It’s too bad now that I look back that I acted like that. I have a nephew who is nine and when I see him do something disrespectful I find it very aggravating. Sometimes I wish I could go back and change the way I acted, but I guess that is part of growing up. You learn things in the past that will have an effect on your future.