I loved you enough to ask you about where you were going, with whom and what time you would be home.

I loved you enough to insist that you buy a bike with your own money that we could have afforded to give you.

I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your hand-picked friend was a creep.

I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that would have taken me fifteen minutes to do myself.

I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment, disgust, and tears in my eyes.

I loved you enough to admit I was wrong and ask for your forgiveness.

I loved you enough to let you stumble, fall and hurt. I loved you enough to let you assume responsibility for your actions at 6, 10 or 16.

But most of all, I loved you enough to say NO when you hated me for it. That was the hardest part of all!