Nancy''s big eyes sparkled with innocence and curiosity. She really didn''t get it—why does saying sorry mean you have to forgive someone?


    She asked her dad the question, face serious and expectant.


    Herman took a couple of deep breaths. At work, he was the boss-decisive,manding, never questioned. But at home, here he was, thrown off by a little kid''s honest question.


    "She''s your grandma. You don''t have to forgive her if you don''t want to, but you can''t hit people,” Herman said, trying to sound patient. "Forgiving is your choice. Hitting, though, that''s about character. And besides, she''s your elder. In our family, we respect the old and care for the young, remember?"


    Nancy thought hard, her brow furrowed. "So, kids who hit are just bad friends?"


    "It depends on why." Herman knelt down so they were eye to eye. "A man''s fists are for protecting his family, not for hurting them. Got it?"


    Nancy squeezed her little fists, still not sure she understood, but her confused face was irresistibly cute.


    "Daddy, can I sleep with you and Mommy tonight?" She wrapped her arms around his waist, putting on her sweetest voice.


    Herman saw his chance. "You can, but you have to call Grandma and apologize first."


    Nancy''s eyes darted back and forth, clearly weighing her options.


    "Okay!" she said finally, breaking into a smile. Her cheeks were so round and chubby it was hard not tough.


    She scrambled off Herman''sp and grabbed her smartwatch from the drawer. At three years old, she already knew how to use it-kids these days picked up tech so fast.


    She tapped through the contacts with her pudgy finger. Grandma, Dad, Mom, Nana —she knew all the icons by heart. She pressed Grandma''s and waited.


    Katelyn was still on her way home when the call came. Seeing her granddaughter''s name on the screen, her mood immediately brightened.


    "Nancy! Why are you calling, sweetheart?" Katelyn''s voice was gentle. "Did Daddy spank you? Does it still hurt?"


    "Grandma." Nancy''s voice was sweet and soft. She nced at her dad, who nodded at her. “Grandma, I''m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn''t have hit you."


    "It''s okay, honey. Grandma isn''t mad at you,” Katelyn said, sounding even softer. “It was Grandma''s fault for breaking your toy. I''ll buy you a new one next time, okay?"


    "Okay! But I want the exact same one..."


    Kids are actually easy tofort, as long as you have patience.


    Herman was usually gentle, but Nancy had been extra moody these days, shouting over the smallest things. This time, he''d lost his temper and spanked her.


    After Nancy hung up, Herman


    checked her bottom. Earlier, he''d carried her into her room and given her a swat with his slipper. Now, her skin was still red, and the sig


    sight. made Herman''s heart ache with


    quift.


    When ites to parenting, most moms and dads are the same: you get angry and punish your kid, then instantly regret it once you''ve cooled off.


    Anastasia walked in just then and saw Nancy sprawled over Herman''sp, while he inspected the red marks, lookingpletely remorseful.


    "Nancy, why don''t you go downstairs and y with your sisters?" Anastasia said softly.


    Herman helped Nancy pull up her pants. She seemed to have forgotten the pain already, waving as she bounced away. "Bye, Mommy! Bye, Daddy! I''m going to y!"


    Anastasia ruffled her son''s hair as he left.


    Once Nancy was out of sight, she turned to Herman with a teasing smile. "Regretting it now, huh?"


    Herman shook his head. “Next time


    I''ll try to hold back. Honestly, if I hadn''t been worried you''d get to him first I wouldn''t have done it. When, you spank him, you don''t know your own strength."


    Anastasiaughed. "So it''s fine for you, but not for anyone else?"


    He just grinned sheepishly.


    "If you''d been a secondter, I really would''ve done it myself," Anastasia admitted.


    If Katelyn hadn''t been there, she


    definitely would have. But as a daughter-inw, it wasn''t her ce to scold her mother-inw, and if she tried, it would just give Katelyn something else to criticize her No point, no reward.


    for


    So, when it came to disciplining their son, that job was best left to Herman.