My best friends' two kids were delights. I never had to ask them twice to do something. They just did it. Now for their parents, uh unnn but for me, yes. When Seth was a boy, I was going to Joplin (MO) to see an SF movie and thought Seth would enjoy it so I invited him along. He was so cute. He dressed in a suit and tie and I took him out to a nice restaurant where he ordered a cheeseburger (he was a 10 year old kid- LOL) and we went to the movie and had a fun time. I've always had a special place in my heart for my "adopted" nephew. I was the only person he'd trust when he got one of his migraines. I'd hypnotize him and get rid of the headache.

I remember making up rules for the 1 hour car trip to Joplin:
No flipping off truck drivers; they're bigger than us.
No teasing cops; I'm allergic to handcuffs.
No spitting in the car.
No littering with empties
No littering with full bottles goes without saying

and others I've forgotten.

When he graduated, I sent him a card with a handwritten message, as much wisdom as I could gather for the occasion and I would bet he still has it. He and I used to love Sour Cream and Onion potato chips so one time I mailed him an empty bag and told him I bought them for him but, unfortunately, I got hungry. He laughed and laughed, his mother said, and tucked away that empty bag. He saved it for years.

There are special kids out there and they are so worth spending time on and interacting with. I miss seeing Seth. When we were out eating with his mother and step-father, Annie would look away and Seth would steal one of her shrimp off her plate. I saw it and just grinned at him. Our little secret. Annie kept wondering where her shrimp went. She never knew Seth was swiping them.

So don't be afraid. You just have to spend time and love, pay lots of attention and discipline with love. You're teaching a little person how to become an adult. To paraphrase the Bible: Teach them the way they should go and they will never depart from that.