Problem: Article: You may have a set list of chores to do or there may just be a general understanding that you will help your parents out when they need it. Whatever the rules are in your own household, you should take the initiative and help out your folks even before they ask for it. Whether this means washing your dishes, doing your own laundry, mowing the lawn, or picking up groceries, you should make a point of helping out without being forced to or without expecting a reward, because that is one of your duties as a son. The least you can do is to always clean up after yourself, whether this means doing your own laundry or dishes or keeping your room clean. But after that, you should go above and beyond and help scrub the bathroom floor, take out the trash, or even clean out the fridge. Your parents don't expect you to be a rocket scientist or to get into Stanford. However, they would be happy if you respected your teachers, did your homework, and kept your grades up to the best of your ability. If you need help in school, ask your teachers or your parents for help, and make studying a priority over socializing. Not only will this set you on a path to succeed in your future endeavors, but it will also make life much easier for your parents. The best you can do is to respect your learning institution instead of playing hooky or complaining about it all the time. Your parents shouldn't have to force you to see the value of your education. As you grow older, you'll find that you can't depend on your parents to do everything for you. Your parents will appreciate that you're independent and willing to do things on your own though they'll still want to love and care for you, of course. Once you're in the neighborhood of 10-12 years old, you can start thinking about cleaning up after yourself, not asking your mom's help with basic tasks like laundry or washing dishes, and starting to think for yourself a bit more. This will help you develop strong character and will make you a better son. Your parents will appreciate it if you learn to do things on your own, from making your own meals to cleaning up on your own initiative. Your foresight will help them out a lot. Don't be afraid to be different from your parents. They don't expect you to be a clone of them. One of the best things you can do to be a good son and a good brother is to be kind to your siblings. It's not always easy to get along with your siblings, whether they are older or younger, but you should try to develop relationships with them that are encouraging and non-competitive. This will not only help you be a good role model to your siblings, but it will help your parents out more than you know. You can also be a good son by helping your siblings do their schoolwork, clean up, or learn basic skills. This will give your parents some more time to relax. As you grow older and develop your own personality and ideals, you may find that you and your parents fundamentally disagree about many things. Maybe your parents are devout Catholics while you struggle to believe in a higher power. Maybe your parents are conservative while you identify as a liberal. The important thing to keep in mind is not that you have to agree with everything your parents believe, but that you have to know how to respectfully disagree with them instead of starting a fight over every little difference you may have. If your parents want you to do something you don't want to do, such as go to church, try to explain why it's not the path for you. Don't just outright refuse, but make a point of staying calm while you explain your own beliefs. If your parents won't budge, find a way to keep things civil and even friendly and to avoid topics that will cause you to fight. As you grow older, you should begin to see your parents as people who are more than just "Mom" and "Dad." They have busy lives, friendships, relationships with their own parents, careers that they may or may not be happy with, and at least one child to take care of. Take some time to consider how busy and overwhelming life can be for your parents, and consider how certain difficult situations may make them feel before you start an argument or protest too much. It takes character to be able to step into someone else's shoes. The next time you have a fight with one of your parents, try to see the situation from his or her perspective to see if it gives you a better understanding of why they disagree with you. This can help strengthen your relationship and will give you a deeper understanding of who your parents really are. To see them as people, you can also ask them questions about their friends, their job, their childhood, or anything else that will shed some light on who they are. It's okay to make mistakes as a son, and your parents won't expect perfection from you. However, they will expect you to be accountable for your mistakes, and the best thing you can really do is to apologize when you've made a mistake. If you've done something wrong, no matter how big or small, it's important to sit your parents down, look them in the eyes, and tell them that you've really messed up. It's also important that you make a point of not repeating the mistake again. Make sure that they know you really mean it, and that you're not just saying it so they'll stop being mad at you. If you've upset one of your siblings, it's just as important to apologize to them as well.
Summary: Help out around the house without being asked. Do as well in school as you can. Establish your independence. Be kind to your siblings. Know when to agree to disagree. Learn to see your parents as people. Apologize when you've made a mistake.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: In any conflict situation, everyone involved tends to believe the situation is the other party's fault. Consider whether there is anything you could do differently to improve your working relationship. Do you have an aggressive personality? Sometimes you might come on too strong, and others might react by withdrawing or becoming defensive, even if you meant well. Try toning it down or giving them some space. Do you tend to be critical? Even if it's part of your job, the way a person offers criticism can feel constructive or like a personal attack. Some people with more sensitive personalities may receive all but the most gentle criticism this way. Don't be afraid to take the responsibility for a conflict, and make it right. Use "I statements" to deflect potential defensiveness, like "I may have overstepped my role" or "I am afraid I may have come across too harshly with my criticism." Learning more about their interests, backgrounds, and families can help to relieve some of the conflict by helping you understand their personality, goals, and priorities. Invite them over to your home for a barbeque, or to a bar or restaurant after work. You can get to know them free of the stress of the workplace, and help them to see you as a three dimensional person with a life outside of work. Remember that negative and conflict-ridden people are often under a lot of stress. They may be fighting a medical condition, struggling to pay their bills, or dealing with family issues. Extend the same benefit of the doubt that you would hope someone would extend to you on a bad day. Be considerate of your co-worker's personal boundaries, and don't be offended if they choose not to get close. They may decline invitations or prefer to keep their work relationships strictly professional, and that's ok too. You might not be best friends with all your co-workers, but you can make a special effort to be kind, polite, and easy to work with. Never engage in behaviors that are considered harassment, such as making suggestive sexual comments or gestures or telling jokes that target race, culture, or gender. Consider leaving notes of appreciation for your co-workers, or bringing in donuts to the office once a month. When it's reasonable and does not add to your work load, help your co-workers out in little ways: grab their copies off the copy machine, offer to take orders for Starbucks if you're headed there anyway, or refill the soap dispenser. The little things can add up to a much more enjoyable working relationship. Going out of your way to be kind doesn't mean letting others walk all over you or letting others take advantage of your helpfulness. It just means treating everyone the same at work regardless of whether they are your favorite or least favorite person to work with.
Summary:
Look at yourself. Get to know your co-workers as people. Go out of your way to be kind.