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 your 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.

I loved you enough...

To let you hate me at times............