By Cheryl Mattox Berry
At the tender ages of 8 and 10, two California girls knew they had to live by some rules. So, Isabella Thordsen and Isabelle Busath, who are cousins, spent two weeks writing down 157 dos and don’ts in a little red notebook.
Last week, their rules became public when they lost the notebook in a Walmart parking lot. An employee asked the media to help him find the girls so they could be reunited with their rules, one of which was don’t lose the notebook.
Some of their rules are pretty simple: No coloring on people, don’t bite the dentist, no talking back and no squeezing others. They even started a club for kids who follow the rules.
This charming story made me realize that I should jot down some rules. You’ll recognize some of them from previous posts.
1. Obey your parents.
2. Don’t cuss around adults.
3. Make your bed before leaving for school.
4. Don’t take what doesn’t belong to you.
5. Wear clothes that flatter your figure, not show your flaws.
6. Date nice boys.
7. Use birth control.
8. Exercise regularly.
9. Don’t wait until the last minute to study for exams.
10. Come to class prepared.
11. Don’t tell secrets.
12. Treat others as you want to be treated.
13. Keep complaints to yourself.
14. Think before you speak.
15. Take responsibility for your actions.
Although some of the rules may seem like common sense, there’s something about seeing them in black and white that makes them more important. Print the rules and post them where you can see them every day. Feel free to add others or make your own list. In creating a list, think about things your parents tell you over and over. That’s how the girls came up with some of their rules.
This could also be a fun exercise with friends. In a group, draft a list of rules. Think of penalties for violations, such as a small fine. Then, determine how the money will be spent at the end of the year.
I never thought I would agree with this opinion, but I’m starting to see things differently.