a nice boy.so early in life, i had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise.
i understand the writer is talking about something that happens in the past. therefore, all verbs used past tense.
why not " i remembered well how my mother........" but " i remember well...." and " i had learned that if you wanted something......." but " i had learned that if you want something....."
the first is easy to answer - it is because the act of remembering takes place in the author's present that is at the time of writing.
the second is more difficult to answer. the author probably strongly believes this was 