Always Wear Clean Underwear: And Other Ways Parents Say I Love You

Clean your plate.
Stand up straight.
Call if you're going to be late.

Part of being a kid is having grown-ups make you do things you hate--like eating your vegetables, taking out the garbage, and walking the dog. Then, to make matters worse, they say you can't do things that are no big deal-like talking with your mouth full or wearing dirty underwear. And worst of all? You have to listen to them say it not once, not twice, but a zillion times.

When Marc Gellman put together a list of your parents' favorite do's and don'ts, he made a big discovery: Each thing on The List has a hidden meaning that helps you get through life. And love is the reason for everything on The List. So if you already wear clean underwear, here are thirty-one more tips to help you understand some of the crazy ways that parents try to say, "I love you."