Someday when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a mother and father I will tell them.

I loved you enough to ask you about where you were going,

with whom, and what time you would get home.

I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover

that your hand-picked friend was a creep.

I loved you enough to make you return the "Milky Way"

with the bite out of it--to a drugstore and to confess, "I stole this."

I loved you enough to stand over you for 2 hours while you

cleaned your room, a job that would have taken me 15 minutes.

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 asked for your forgiveness.

I loved you enough to let you stumble, fall, and get hurt.

I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions at 6, 10, and 16.

But most of all, I loved you enough to say "no" when you hated me for it.