Building Good Kids: A Modern Parents' Guide

Why This Book? If you're reading this, chances are you're just like me – trying to figure out how to raise good kids in a world that seems to be changing faster than we can keep up. I'm not here to preach or claim I've got all the answers. I have over 68 years of life experience, many of those years working with families, particularly their youth, and I've seen firsthand how powerful the Scout Law can be in shaping young lives. Now, I know what you're thinking. "Scout Law? Isn't that just for, well... Scouts?" Trust me, I had the same thought at first. But here's the thing: these principles aren't just about tying knots and earning badges. They're about building character, integrity, and respect – qualities we all want our kids to have, right? Even more, we want them in the adults we interact with daily. I once learned from an experienced Scout leader, “If you want good adults, you have to build good kids.”But here's the kicker – you don't need to be a Scout leader to instill these values in your kids. You're already doing it every day, whether you realize it or not. This book is about adapting and applying those timeless principles to our modern parenting challenges. So, what can you expect from this book? Well, it's not a step-by-step manual (because, let's face it, kids don't come with instruction manuals). Instead, think of it as a friendly chat with someone who's been in the trenches of parenthood and has picked up a few tricks. We will break down each point of the Scout Law and explore how it applies to raising kids in today's world. We'll talk about everything from teaching honesty in the age of social media to fostering bravery in a time when our kids face new kinds of pressures we never dreamed of. As we go through this journey together, remember there's no such thing as a perfect parent. We all make mistakes, lose our cool, and sometimes wonder if we're doing it right. The key is to keep trying and stay committed to raising kids who will make the world a little bit better. So, get comfortable because we're about to embark on an adventure – the adventure of “building good kids.” It's not always easy, but I promise you, it's the most rewarding thing you'll ever do. Are you ready? Let's get started! About the Author: J Epperson is a seasoned business professional and a dedicated leader with over five decades of Scouting leadership and volunteer service. With a career spanning numerous industries and roles, J has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence, integrity, and service—principles deeply rooted in his life through his long-standing association with the Boy Scouts of America. A proud Eagle Scout, J’s journey in Scouting began in his youth and has continued throughout his life. He comes from a family where the values of Scouting were not just taught but lived. As the youngest of four brothers—all Eagle Scouts—J learned the importance of responsibility, leadership, and service to others early. This tradition of excellence in Scouting extended to his family, where he has proudly raised three Eagle Scout sons, each embodying the values and skills that Scouting imparts. In this book, "Building Good Kids: A Modern Parents’ Guide—Using the Scout Law as a Compass to Guide Our Children’s Character," J draws on his rich experiences in both Scouting and business to offer parents a blueprint for instilling solid morals, values in their children. He believes that the principles of the Scout Law—trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, friendliness, courtesy, kindness, obedience, cheerfulness, thriftiness, bravery, cleanliness, and reverence—are timeless guides that can shape and build the character of the next generation.