When I decided to extend my pediatric practice to include adolescents I thought I would be able to help all those troubled teens and their families get back on track. I soon learned that by the teen years a kid’s life habits are pretty much formed; what happens before the teen years is what’s important. Develop a positive attitude: If you want your child to be happy, optimistic, honest, spiritual, and respectful you must be happy, optimistic, honest, spiritual, and respectful! There are many roads to this goal. The most basic ones include being responsible, knowing that actions have consequences, and laws at every level are made to protect us; we must respect the laws, and those who enforce them. First, instill in your children an attitude of responsibility. One of the best tools I know to help your kids learn responsibility, at an early age, is an alarm clock. …