A radio station that I tune into recently asked its listeners, "What lies or exaggerations did your parents tell you when you were a child in order to encourage or discourage certain behaviors?"

One of the most common answers was when parents told us, "Don't make a funny face because if you do, your face will get stuck that way." Another popular one was "If you swallow a watermelon seed (or any seed from a fruit), a tree will grow inside your stomach." Then there was "Don't touch a frog or toad or you will get warts" and "If you sit too close to the TV, it will ruin your eyes."

We believed it when our parents told us that brown cows made chocolate milk, that moms have eyes in the back of their heads and that cracking your knuckles meant you would get arthritis.

Not all "lies" were negative, however. For example, when we were scared during a thunderstorm, my mom would always tell us that it was God and the angels bowling in heaven. And if you listen closely, it really does sound that way.

Plus, to spare our feelings when a beloved pet dies, parents may tell children that a cat or dog ran away or is living happily on a nearby farm where he can run and play.

My parents also warned us about bad behaviors such as wishing bad things to happen to others or telling lies. For example, if we wished our teacher would get a bad cold so we could get out of taking a test, we, in fact, would be the ones getting the cold.

Yes, parenting does sometimes involve exaggerations, but there are other life lessons that parents teach us. At my childhood home, my parents taught us to respect nature and the Earth. My mom said that it is our responsibility to feed God's creatures, so we had multiple bird feeders and often fed feral cats.

We learned about personal responsibility, always trying to do the right thing and the importance of praying and attending church.

Our parents encouraged us to try to gain as much knowledge as possible. This meant reading books and magazines and newspapers to keep apprised of current events. It meant attending events like local community theater, concerts and even the ballet.

While it is not an original thought, my mom used to say that people judge you by the company you keep, which means you should surround yourself with like-minded people and always be a good friend.

Today, I am trying to make my parents proud by following the ideals they taught me. I have not forgotten any of the lessons, exaggerated or not. I never make funny faces, eat watermelon seeds, sit too close to the TV or crack my knuckles, and I have never touched a frog. And, every summer, I can't wait for a thunderstorm, so I can listen to God bowling with the angels.