I LOVED YOU ENOUGH ( Erma Bombeck)

SOME DAY WHEN MY CHILDREN ARE OLD ENOUGH
TO UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC THAT MOTIVATES A
PARENT, I WILL TELL THEM:
I LOVED YOU ENOUGH TO ASK WHERE YOU WERE
GOING, WITH WHOM, AND WHAT TIME YOU WOULD
BE HOME.
I LOVED YOU ENOUGH TO INSIST THAT YOU SAVE YOUR
MONEY AND BUY A BIKE FOR YOURSELF EVEN THOUGH
WE COULD AFFORD TO BUY ONE FOR YOU.
I LOVED YOU ENOUGH TO BE SILENT AND LET YOU DISCOVER
THAT YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND WAS A CREEP.
I LOVED YOU ENOUGH TO  MAKE YOU TAKE  A  MILKY WAY
BACK TO THE DRUGSTORE (WITH A BITE OUT OF IT) AND
TELL THE CLERK,  "I STOLE THIS YESTERDAY AND WANT
TO PAY FOR IT."
I LOVED YOU ENOUGH TO STAND OVER YOU FOR TWO
HOURS WHILE YOU CLEANED YOU ROOM, A JOB THAT
WOULD HAVE TAKEN 15 MINUTES.
I LOVED YOU ENOUGH TO LET YOU SEE ANGER, DISAPPOINTMENT
AND TEARS IN MY EYES. CHILDREN MUST LEARN THAT THEIR
PARENTS AREN'T PERFECT.
I LOVED YOU ENOUGH TO LET YOU ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR YOUR ACTIONS EVEN WHEN THE PENALTIES WERE SO HARSH
THEY ALMOST BROKE MY HEART.
BUT MOST OF ALL, I LOVED YOU ENOUGH TO SAY  "NO" WHEN
I KNEW YOU WOULD HATE ME FOR IT. THOSE WERE THE MOST
DIFFICULT BATTLES OF ALL. I'M GLAD I WON THEM, BECAUSE IN
THE END YOU WON, TOO.