When my children were small I read Erma Bombeck's column in our local paper every day.   She was a wonderful writer, and she could say things that I did not know how to put into words. One column that I cut out has remained my favorite column,and I still have it, after 4 decades.  It is moth-eared and stained with the tears I have shed over it as I came across it while cleaning out whatever drawer, box or container where it rested. I felt that it said what I could not say to my sons.  I too, was going to tell them, and waited too long for one of them. He died...

I hope this means as much to you as it has to me.

I Loved You Enough.....

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 thatwould have taken me 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.

Erma Bombeck