I once thought I would be a perfect mother．It 1 me 16 years to learn that I could not be．I know that I made some mistakes． 2 I could raise my children again, I wouldn’t repeat those mistakes．Maybe I would make new 3 ．But I think I would do a better job．
I would try to understand my children．I often did what my 4 would have done．I 5 their ways of raising children．For example, I had my 13-year-old son, David, come home early, but he hated this rule．He saw no reason for it． 6 a girl, I had to be home early．I wanted my son to do the 7 thing．Now I would think more about why I wanted things done in a certain way．
My father was sick when I was young．So my sister, my brother and I were 8 all the time．We did not cry in anger and we didn’t laugh for 9 ．I just wanted my children to be quiet, too．I never stopped 10 “Why”．
It was hard for me to let my children show anger．I 11 them when they started to get angry．Now I would tell my children,“It is all right to show love and it is all right to show anger．Your feelings are good．I love you no matter 12 you feel．”