The Three Steps to Buttering Up Your Parents

   If you're a teenager who, like most teenagers, often wants something from your parents, then this post is for you. Whether you're looking for $20 on loan so you can go to the movies with your friends, or just looking for permission to Facebook (is Facebook a verb?), chances are you'll want to butter up your parents in order to get them on your good side. Well, there are 3 easy and mostly foolproof steps to doing this. Allow me to enlighten you.

   1) BEHAVE YOURSELF:
       This may sound stupid, or just plain difficult, but its instrumental to success. If your parents are mad at you, or aren't impressed by your attitude, then you'll get nowhere with your endeavours. Be a model child, and your chances  of getting a yes have instantly improved.

   2) DO THEM (AND YOURSELF) A FAVOR:
       Helping someone else is helping yourself, in the long run. Think about it; if you do a good turn for someone, chances are good that they will be inclined to do the same back to you. So help your dad mow the lawn. Help your mom with dinner. Help them both by turning the stereo down. If you already do this things, kudos, my friend.

   3) BE STRATEGIC IN YOUR APPROACH:

       What I mean by this is that you should plan. Plan to ask your favor on a day when your parents are in a good mood. Don't ask your dad for money when he comes home from a stressful day at work, for example. Wait for the right moment; it'll pay off in the end.

   So there are my 3 steps to buttering up your parents; may they help you. Hopefully you can learn from them, and if you already use similar guidelines, good for you. Pacem in Christi.

~Ian James~