He is the author of more than 30 books for junior and teen readers. First, let's get something straight. Standards aren't rules. They're much more than that.
Standards create rules.
As his parents and sister slowly continued down the sidewalk, my future dad thrust his fingers and toes into the cool recesses of the pile, carving pretend roads, hills, and valleys among the grains, letting his imagination populate the world he'd created with trucks, houses, barns, and people. Suddenly, he heard his mother calling to him. We've got to head for home now. The child quickly obeyed, hurrying to catch up with the others, a happy smile lighting his face. When he reached his mother's side, she glanced down at him and stopped walking.