Lively Features and Charts Lively Features and Charts
38 Unit 1 Your Development and Relationships
Sibling Relationships
Sibling relationships can create either harmony or discord within a
family. Special bonds exist among many brothers and sisters. There can be
a closeness not found in any other relationship. Brothers and sisters can be
best friends. They can enjoy being with one another, 2-5. They can share
thoughts, feelings, and belongings.
On the other hand, sibling
relationships can sometimes
involve bitterness, jealousy,
and fi ghting. Sibling rivalry is
competition between brothers
and sisters. Siblings try to
compete with each other in some
ways. When very young, they
may compete for their parents’
attention. As they get older,
they may compete for special
privileges. They might try to
outperform one another in school
or sports, too.
Improving Relations with Parents
The following suggestions may help you improve your relationship with your parents:
• Share your concerns. Keep the lines of communication open. Talk with your parents. Let
them know how you feel. Then ask them to share their feelings. Try to understand their point
of view. Also, explain the reasons for your viewpoint.
• Show you care. Adults sometimes think teens only care about themselves. Let your
parents know you care about them, as well as others.
• Show you are responsible. You have read in this book how you can show that you are
responsible at home and at school. Put some of these ideas into practice. Respect your
parents’ privacy. Remember to do assigned tasks without them needing to ask you. Carry out
all your responsibilities. Prove that you are ready for more.
• Show you can be trusted. In order to receive more freedom, you must prove that you can
handle it. If you say you will be home at a certain time, be home at that time. If you cannot,
call and explain your delay. When your parents know they can trust you, they will be more
likely to give you greater freedom.
Writing Activity
Think about your relationship with your parents. Are there times you have trouble getting
along? What can you do to help relieve the strain? Write a journal entry describing ways you can
help improve your relationship with your parents.
Life Connections
Health Connections
Achieving Healthy Sibling Relations
Siblings often share problems and worries. In order
to help siblings with their problems, try to tune into how
they are feeling. Hear exactly what they are saying.
Try to understand why they are worried. Imagine how
you would feel in the same situations. Avoid making
judgments by saying “You should have….” Listen
instead. Then ask how you can help. Do not give advice
to a sibling unless he or she asks for it. When you do
give advice, give it in a way that shows you care.
Chapter 1 Personal Development 27
of all community members. For
instance, police offi cers enforce laws.
You should respect police offi cers as
representatives of the law.
Respecting other people is
another community responsibility.
The rights of others are protected
by law. For instance, it is against
the law for one person to physically
harm another. Respect for another’s
property is also a responsibility. This
includes anything from bicycles to
homes. If you respect someone’s
property, you do not damage it or
take it without permission.
Respect for community property,
such as parks and libraries, is also a
responsibility. You have the right to
use and enjoy public property. You
share public property with everyone
in the community, however. You
can show good citizenship by using
community property carefully. Leave
parks and buildings the same way
you would want others to leave them
for you—free from damage and litter.
Volunteering
One way to demonstrate good citizenship is to volunteer in your
community. When you volunteer, you donate money, materials, or time to
help other members of your community.
There are many ways you can volunteer in your community. By contributing
to a food or clothing drive, you are helping people in need of these items. If you
volunteer to organize a drive, you volunteer your time as well as materials.
Hospitals, community centers, and retirement homes offer opportunities
for volunteering. You could spend time visiting people in these facilities. Your
contributions can include reading to someone or entertaining a group of sick
children. Helping clean or prepare meals is another way to volunteer your time.
1. What does becoming independent involve?
2. What is one way to show your parents and others that you are ready
to become more independent?
3. What are some of your responsibilities at home? at school? in the community?
4. What does citizenship mean? Give an example of a way to show good
citizenship.
Reading Review Reading Review
Community Responsibilities
In addition to being a citizen of your local community,
you are also a citizen of a global community. The most
important responsibility you have to your community is to
protect the Earth. Pollution from fuels harms the air you
breathe. Waste dumped into waterways contaminates the
water. How you protect and care for the planet now will
have an impact on the quality of life for future generations.
Global Connections
Protect the Environment
There are many ways you can do your part to help
protect the environment. You could organize a group to help
pick up trash in a park or on roadsides. You might use public
transportation, ride your bike, or walk instead of riding in
a car. You can be more mindful of how much energy and
water you use. Learning to be a responsible citizen can help
you make a difference in your local and global communities.
Go Green
134 Unit 2 Managing Your Life
Deductions are amounts of money
that an employer subtracts from
your paycheck before you receive
it. The most common deductions
are for federal and state income
taxes, Social Security, and Medicare.
If you receive health benefi ts, you
may have a deduction for that as
well, 6-5.
The income you earn before these
deductions is your gross income.
After the deductions, the amount of
money you earn is your net income.
This is the actual amount of money
you will be managing.
Budgeting Your Money
Basic money management involves using a budget. A budget is a
written plan for spending your money wisely. It helps you see how much
money you have and how you spend it.
Your expenses are the ways you spend your money. You may spend
money to go to a ballgame or to buy a gift for a friend. You might also
spend money to buy lunch and school supplies.
Social Security Tax
A Social Security tax will be deducted from your
paycheck under the initials FICA, or Federal Insurance
Contributions Act. This is a mandatory government tax that
funds the Social Security and Medicare programs. Eligible
workers may receive retirement, disability, and survivor
benefi ts from these programs. The amount deducted is
determined by the amount you make and is matched by
your employer. For more information, visit the U.S. Social
Security Administration website at www.ssa.gov.
Financial Literacy
Connections
6-5 A paycheck stub shows how much gross income you earn and how much is taken out for
deductions, which then equals your net pay.
Town
Department
Store
Employee Kristy A. James SSN 987-65-4321
Pay Period 3/8/XX to 3/21/XX
Pay Date 3/27/XX Net Pay $827.70
Check No. 12341234
Earnings Hrs. Current YTD Deductions Current YTD
REGULAR 80.00 1113.73 5923.12 FICA 69.06 494.17
OVERTIME 1872.99 MEDICARE 16.15 115.58
FED. TAX 116.17 880.89
STATE TAX 52.40 347.68
HEALTH 32.25 225.75
TOTALS
80.00 1113.73 7796.11 286.03 2064.07
Deductions Net income Gross income
Develop money management skills.
Financial Literacy Connections Financial Literacy Connections
Colorful tables
bring chapter
content to life
and make
concepts clearer.
Tables Tables
Explore life skills that promote success
now and in the future. An activity connects
each life skill with a real-world scenario.
Life Connections Life Connections
Focus on how to make healthful decisions.
Health Connections Health Connections
Learn about other countries
and cultures as related to the
text material.
Global Connections Global Connections
Green features suggest ways to raise
awareness about the environment and
how to make sustainable decisions.
Go Green Go Green
VIII Introduction