Arm in Arm

You look forward in to her eyes
She has grown when you weren't watching
She is now as tall as you are
She still looks up to you however

How you treat her
Is how she will always want to be treated
Maybe subconsciously
But you have formed her expectation

Now the opportunity arises
She is in need of discipline
A lecture, a punishment, harsh words
But are there other options?

She seems dug in
At this age she can't afford to be wrong
She won't be shown up
She loves you but wants her independence

An argument is ready to explode
And she does not know how to stop it
It is a turf battle that goes far beyond
The matter foremost in your mind

So you apply what you have learned
You take the role of the adult
You reach out to her
And take her in your arms

All to worlds problems are not solved that day
But a world of respect is gained
A child looks up to her parent
And knows that she was wrong

The hug communicates the love
The love communicates the heart
The heart feeds the mind the words
To communicate problem and resolution

~ Michael L. Perkins
October 6, 2005