“Mom and Dad even took in foster children. ‘There are no limits to how much you can love,’ Dad always said.”

My first college roommate greeted me with a shocked silence followed by, ‘So. . .you’re black.

I don’t make plans, because life is short and unpredictable – much like the weather!

You don’t have to try to impress your kids. If they’re not getting what they need from you, they will let you know.

We already had an adopted daughter, 10-year-old Courtney, from my previous marriage.

My own childhood showed me that when it comes to loving your kids, concepts like that don’t apply.

Exercising is what I need for my metabolism and for a better sense of well-being.

I couldn’t wait for Courtney to come to the hospital so I could have all my women together.

There is no quick fix. At the end of the day, you still have to do the work to maintain your weight. It can’t be a diet. You have to change your life.

They wrapped her up like a baby burrito to show to Mom. Here were a mother and her daughter and I love them both so much.

You have to learn to use it responsibly.

And I love doing this thing, and they will have to blow me out of here with dynamite before I leave.

I also want them to know that being successful is not the real world – that their parents get treated better because they’re on TV.

I love cooking for myself and cooking for my family.

I know I need to exercise. For some people, exercise is like breathing; for others, like me, it takes effort.

I’ve never been part of anything so great as those three kids.

I get bitter, angry and disbelieving and I tell my kids there a lot of idiots out there.

[Calvin, who has the chicken pox, calls Susie on the telephone.] Susie: Hello? Calvin: Hi, Susie! It’s me, Calvin! I was wondering if you’d like to come over and play. Susie: Why, sure! Boy,

When I was around 7 or 8 my Dad took me to a B.B. King recording session, well, that really did it. Huge and lasting impressions.

Hello Dad! It is now three in the morning. Do you know where I am?

My mum and dad had worked incredibly hard to afford me an education.

My dad’s from there, and I have relatives there, but I don’t think I’ve been to Chicago since I was like 9.

I never got along with my dad. Kids used to come up to me and say, ‘My dad can beat up your dad.’ I’d say ‘Yeah? When?’

Yesterday, my son was out in the yard playing with his friend, and he hit his friend. I walked up to him, and I said, “Hey… We don’t hit”. He looked at me like, “Here’s your sign, Dad”.

Sometimes my dad even gets on this kick–‘You hate this country’….I have to tell him…I just hate being lied to.