When I was a kid growing up, I don't think I ever went anywhere without my mother saying, "Robert, there is one more thing I want to tell you." It didn't make any difference where I was going. I could have been going to camp, I could have been going to spend the night with a friend or I could have been going to a party. I don't care what it was, before I got out of the car, my mother would say, "There's one more thing I want to tell you." It was never really one more thing -- but several things. And they were usually always the same. My mother would look at me and she would say, "Remember, be on your best manners. Don't do anything to embarrass the family."

Another thing she always asked was a question I hated. But, I'll bet many of your mothers asked you the same thing. She would get a s…