If you want to be respected by your parents — and everyone else — act like a real man. Your parents have invested a lot of time, money, and energy in you. From providing all of your material needs like clean clothes and food to those needs that are priceless like love and devotion — you are the most important investment they have and they only want to see you succeed in life.  So please, don’t look or behave like an idiot.

18 ways to be a better man … by being a good son:

1. Cherish the time you have with your parents.

The time you have with your parents is short and precious, so make the most of it. Spend as much time as you can with them. Make it quality, loving time — don’t let your mind drift away.

2. Talk to your parents.

Whether you are close to your parents or not, keeping them informed about your hopes and fears and how they can support you is imperative.  Don’t limit your conversations strictly to family memories, or gossip about family members, or your personal life. There’s a whole wide world out there — why not try talking about it.

3. Bond with your parents.

Find things that you have in common with your parents.  Just spending ‘quality time’ will mean more than you know.

4. Listen to your parents.

If you listen to them and treat them with the respect they deserve, they will listen to you and treat you with respect that you desire. This gesture of respect is something that they will appreciate.

5. Trust your parents.

You may not always like what your parents have to say or feel like they understand you, but they care for you and will usually do and say what they feel is in your best interest.

6. Be loyal.

Always be true to your family and friends.

7. Be helpful.

Learn to serve other people without expecting payment or reward.

8. Be courteous.

Be polite to everyone regardless of their age or position. Using good manners makes it easier for people to get along.

9. Keep a sense of humor.

Laughter can always be a lifesaver — both to help you handle the stress of dealing with sometimes crotchety individuals and to help you bond. If you can laugh together with your parents, you’re doing okay.

10. Attend family gatherings and engage.

Don’t be nonchalant about attending family gatherings. Unless it’s unavoidable, always attempt to go to family gatherings. Whether you want to be there or not, the gesture shows maturity and commitment.

11. Learn to make your own decisions.

An important part of being a self-reliant man is learning how to make decisions for yourself. Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules for decision-making.

12. Be grateful.

As you grow older, you can easily forget the time and effort a parent has put into raising a son, so you have to remember to thank your parents for all that they have done.

13. Be kind.

A good son knows there is strength in being gentle. Always treat others as you want to be treated.

14. Give.

A selfish child will not win the respect of their parents; most people secretly hate those who are selfish or self-centered. Be a giving son — you should help, you should support, and you should try to help others succeed and achieve, but you should also expect respect in return.

15. Be cheerful.

Look for the bright side of life. Try to make others happy.

16. Do not judge.

Learn to love your parents — and everyone else — without judging them. I understand that everyone has their own perspectives on life based what they’ve learned, who they are and what they think the world is all about. So instead of thinking that you are smarter, better, wiser and more perfect than your parents, just love them without judgment.

17. Be a man of your word.

Men who lie, exaggerate, cheat, steal or frequently go back on what they’ve promised, are not the type of guys who are respected by others. The most respected men are those who say what they mean instead of exaggerating, lying or pretending to like someone or something.  Respected men promise what they can deliver and they then stick to that no matter what. As a man, the more you stick by what you promise, the more respected you will be.

18. Be the son that will make your parents proud.

The more of a man that you become, the more people will naturally begin to look up to you. You will be someone that people can lean on, a pillar of strength in this world. You will be someone who can be relied on to be yourself, to say what you really feel and mean and do what is right. Your parents will love you for this.