As a child, I was raised to be a responsible person who listened to my parents and elders. I was a good little church going, Southern Baptist girl who did my homework and never skipped a class. I was raised to speak my mind only when it was acceptable and asked for. I was raised as a polite young lady who didn't play dirty games with the neighbors and always helped my grandma when she needed it. As a young child, I learned the rewards of hard work when pulling weeds for ten cents a trash bag full and the rewards of having a dog, or two, to play with as long as I took care of them. My life growing up wasn't easy, but it wasn't the hardest by far. I was raised with spankings as an acceptable form of punishment and did my very best to make sure that I never earned a spanking.