I LOVED YOU ENOUGH

Some day when my children are old enough to understand
the logic that motivates a mother, 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 insist that you buy a bike that we
could afford to give you with your own money.
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 a Milky Way~
with a bite out of it, to a drugstore and to confess: "I stole this."
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.
I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment,
disgust, and tears in my eyes.
I loved you enough to argue in front of you
so that you may learn to handle problems.
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 the responsibility
for your actions at 6, 10, 16 or 20.
But most of all, I loved you enough to say NO when you
hated me for it. That was the hardest part of all.

With all my love,
Mom

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my sanity to keep.
For if some peace I do not find,
I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.
I pray I find a little quiet
Far from the daily family riot
May I lie back--not have to think
about what they're stuffing down the sink,
or who they're with, or where
they're at and what they're doing to the cat.
I pray for time all to myself
(did something just fall off a shelf?)
To cuddle in my nice, soft bed
(Oh no, another goldfish--dead!)
Some silent moments for goodness sake
(Did I just hear a window break?)
And that I need not cook or clean--
�:(well heck, I've got the right to dream)
Yes now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my wits about me keep,
But as I look around I know--
I must have lost them long ago!
Author Unknown