The Salstroms had three kids, and up until now, Herman had neverid a finger on any of them.


    Today was different.


    Nancy was terrified, crying so hard the whole house shook. Flynn and Feiman were beside themselves, worried sick that Herman would lose control and really hurt the


    little guy.


    Katelyn was even more frantic. She hurried upstairs, banging on the door, shouting, "Herman, don''t hit Nancy! He''s just a little kid—what are you thinking? Talk to him, that''s all he needs! Ana, go in there and say something, please!"


    Feiman chimed in, “Ana, go on, talk to them. Nancy''s still just a baby."


    Flynn added, "Anastasia, can''t you hear how hard Nancy''s crying? It''s breaking my heart. Please, go calm things down."


    Salma kept quiet. As the mother-inw, it was smartest to stay out of it when her son-inw was disciplining his own child.


    Anastasia stayed calm. "Don''t worry so much. Nancy''s been getting way too wildtely. He needs a little discipline. Herman knows what he''s doing-he''s his dad, after all. Nancy messed up this time. He actually hit someone. If we don''t correct him now, who knows what''ll happen next?"


    Herman had to y the bad guy, and she the good. If one punished and the other coddled, what lesson would Nancy ever learn?


    It didn''t matter if Katelyn had gotten under Nancy''s skin-hitting your grandma was never okay.


    Respecting your elders is just basic decency.


    Paradise and Emmie stood out in the hallway, not daring to say a word.


    "If you won''t go in, I will," Katelyn said, her face stormy. "He''s just three. You can''t spank a kid that age."


    She sent the nanny to fetch the spare key, but before the door even opened, Herman stepped out.


    "How''s Nancy?" Katelyn demanded, worry and anger battling in her voice. "You''re a grown man-how could you hit a child?"


    "Who didn''t get spanked as a kid?" Herman shot back, his voice low. "No one is allowed tofort him. He needs to think about what he did."


    "He''s just a little boy! What do you expect him to figure out by himself? I never hit you or Flynn when you were little," Katelyn snapped. "Let me check on Nancy- don''t you dare hurt him."


    Herman closed the door, his tone firm. "Mom, let me handle my own son. Please, stay out of it."


    Katelyn''s face flushed with anger. "Fine, fine! He''s your kid now, I''ll keep my mouth shut."


    She turned, stomped downstairs, grabbed her purse, and walked right out the door.


    Feiman sighed, following her out into the yard. "Katelyn, why get into it with the kids on a holiday?"


    "I can''t stand to see a child get hit! And if I can''t say a word about it, I''ll just leave. He''s all grown up now—thinks he knows everything,” she called back, loud enough for Herman to hear.


    Herman was left feeling helpless. Anastasia hadn''t expected Katelyn to blow up like that either. The couple just looked at each other,pletely at a loss.


    Anastasia decided not to get dragged into the mess. She took Paradise and Emmie


    into the kitchen.


    Salma came along to help.


    Herman went back to the bedroom to finish talking to his son.


    Feiman hurried after Katelyn. Flynn, left alone, smacked his lips and muttered, "Man this is intense Staying single is so much easier no drama."


    No headaches, no family feuds.


    Inside the bedroom, Nancy sat curled up in the corner, crying his heart out. He


    looked so small and lost, it would break anyone''s heart.


    Herman''s anger slipped away, reced by guilt.


    He knelt down, scooped Nancy up, and gently wiped away his tears. "Hey, it''s okay. Don''t cry."


    Nancy hupped, "Why did you hit me, Daddy? Didn''t you say I''m your little angel?"


    His tiny voice, full of hurt and confusion, was almost too sweet to handle.


    Herman didn''t know whether tough or sigh.


    Nancy''s eyes were red and swollen, tears streaming down his cheeks.


    "Just because you''re my angel


    het


    doesn''t mean you can''t get in trouble" Herman said, trying to reason with him. Why did you hit


    with


    Grandma? Didn''t I tell you


    that


    hitting is wrong? She''s your O


    grandma, you need to respect her. Understand?"


    Nancy, still sniffling, stuck out his chin. “Grandma broke my toy."


    "Did Grandma apologize?"


    Nancy twisted his little fingers, still sobbing, "She did.”


    "Well, then you should forgive her. She didn''t mean it...”


    "I don''t want to forgive her." Nancy was stubborn, his logic unshakable. "Just


    because she apologized, I have to forgive her?”


    Herman was stumped.


    Turns out, arguing with a three-year-old is a losing game.


    And honestly, maybe Nancy was right—he did have the right not to forgive.