1. learning
1.1. the author believes that everyone learns and gets better
1.1.1. "The argument that followed was brief and not really worth the effort. Hunting locust trees wasn’t fun anymore by now."
2. childhood
2.1. the author believes that your childhood is important and the perfect time to meet people that care for you
2.1.1. “Lizabeth!”I leaped furiously into the mounds of marigolds and pulled madly,trampling and pulling and destroying the perfect yellow blooms. The fresh smell of early morning and of dew-soaked marigolds spurred me on as I went tearing and mangling and sobbing while Joey tugged my dress or my waist crying, “Lizabeth, stop, please stop!”
3. maturity
3.1. the author believes that everyone matures at different paces
3.1.1. "I cursed and spat on the ground—my favorite gesture of phony bravado. “Y’all children get the stones, I’ll show you how to use ‘em.”
4. empathy
4.1. the author believes that empathy is always a nice thing to show
4.1.1. "The world had lost its boundary lines. My mother, who was small and soft, was now the strength of the family;my father,who was the rock on which the family had been built,was sobbing like the tiniest child. Everything was suddenly out of tune, like a broken accordion."