Q&A for How to Be a Good Girl

It is always possible to learn how to be respectful of other people's perspectives, time and space, and you can do so by checking out the wikiHow: How to Be Respectful.

You can find ways to spend to time with your family by setting aside weekend times to go and do things together like taking a walk, visiting a cultural place or having a meal with each other outside of the home (like a picnic or a restaurant treat). Ask family members when they'll be free and mark that time on a shared calendar as "Family Time" so everyone knows to set aside the time to get together. Evenings are another good time too, for playing games, reading or conversing together.

As long as no one else (like a sibling) is sleeping in your room, then sure! If other people are sleeping in nearby rooms, make sure that you clean quietly so you don't risk waking them up. If it's late but not your bedtime yet, or if you're unable to fall asleep, you can clean until you get tired or bored of it. As long as you aren't interfering with your own or someone else's sleep, it's okay to clean at any hour of the night.

Get some space, and avoid the person to avoid being hurt again. Next, talk to a trusted adult (like a parent, teacher, parent of a friend, school guidance counselor, or clergy member) about what's going on. Explain what the person is doing, how it's affecting you, and how you've tried to handle it. Ask for advice. Having a heart-to-heart may help if the person doesn't realize it's being done unintentionally, but if it is on purpose, then you'll need to take steps to protect yourself. You don't deserve to be hurt like this, and you don't have to face this alone. Get someone to help you through this.

No person is one hundred percent good or bad -- all human beings are layers of different emotions, desires, thoughts and actions. And all of us have expectations placed on us that we try to live up to, and it isn't always easy or doable. One key approach is to not be so hard on yourself; whenever you're striving to be the best person you can be, slip ups are a natural part of life. Learn from your mistakes and continue to improve, seeing your development as a progression rather than a static state of good or bad. Have a goal to keep improving and learning, and you'll be just fine.

Generally, it is not helpful to have a relationship with anyone in which your main form of communication is shouting. This suggests a heightened state of tension and unhappiness between the two of you. It would be better for both you and your brother if you learned how to communicate with each other through expressing your feelings, wants and needs using calm, clear and factual language that avoids blame or name-calling. So yes, it is recommended that you stop shouting at your brother.

An answer to this depends on context and there is no such thing as a simple, single answer. Think about what it means to be good and why you equate this idea with obedience. While it is true that there are some people we are socially required to obey due to laws and moral obligations, such as obeying a parent who has your best interests in mind or a police officer who has legal authority to enforce laws, there will be times where disobedience might be preferable, such as where someone ordered you to commit a crime. You need to decide when obedience is a good and right thing for you according to the context, the person's authority over you and the consequences of obeying or not obeying.

You might find it helpful to read How to Get People to Like You for some useful ideas.

Yes, provided it is in line with what your parents, faith and personal values consider appropriate for your age and stage. Having a boyfriend is a normal part of growing up in many cultures, although it may be subject to rules, curfews, chaperoning and the like, depending on your background. If having a boyfriend is considered inappropriate for your cultural or faith background, then you might not be allowed to have one, in which case you would need to ask your parents or spiritual leaders for advice. Being good includes working out for yourself what is and isn't appropriate for your situation.

You can. Just make sure that you have a healthy relationship and neither of you is pressuring the other to do something they are uncomfortable with.