To be a man you have to be raised by a man. I shot my first deer when I was 8 years old. For my 8th birthday my dad bought me my first 30/30, talk about a kick, well to a 8 year old. I killed my first hog at 9, and countless squirrels. 

My dad played baseball with me and made sure he attended all my games. We went camping just about every weekend. He devoted a lot of time to my brother and I. We went caving together exploring caves all over the south, at times repelling 50 to a 100 feet down. 

Raised southern Baptist my parents lived a very patriarchal lifestyle. My mother stayed at home and took care of the house. We held family meetings every month, and today I continue that planning out the next month. 

By 17 I had moved out joining the Army, my brother 18 went to work for BP on an oil rig and still works for the same company today. 

I was taught life is based on two things, choices and consequences nothing more. I tried to borrow money from my parents one time and I given a straight forward no. My first job was at 13 washing dishes at a family owned restaurant, at 15 I worked in a cotton mill 3rd shift and went to school during the day and played baseball and football. 

The only chores we had was taking the trash out and keeping the one acre yard mowed. Yea no allowance just a get it done. 

By the time I was 16 I knew how to balance a check book and had my own account, yea no debit cards back then. 

My parents prepared me for real life and how to be responsible and admit when I was wrong. 

In the 70’s and 80’s children were out on there own by 18 or so. After all the bullshit of raising kids, the parents deserve to be able to live their own life. They devoted 18 years to raising us so they deserved that time. 

If your parents are not devoting that much time or didn’t, then ask them why. 







To be a Man