First of all, my dear mom I'm sorry. You told me not to smoke but I started smoking when I was 17 but mom,  I didn't start smoking because I liked it.

I smoked because of something almost every teenager wants in life. Do you know what that is, Mom?

I've explained that in Chapter 1 of my new book, Teach Them to Fly

And you know what mom? You had few other rules too but to be frank, I broke some of those rules as well for reasons many kids have at that age.

I've explained those reasons in the upcoming chapters. Because Mom, I really wish you had known these things before I left home.

And I know mom, you'll read my book because you're a good smart parent who know parenting is all about learning and passing what worked to the next generation. But please mom, talk to my brothers and sisters about the lessons I learned the hard way because I don't want them to go through what I went through. 

That's why I wrote Teach Them to Fly.

19 lessons I wish I had learned before leaving home.