What’s right is not always easy.

When I was 7, I made a choice I’m not proud of–but it’s a memory I'll never forget. My mom, my sister, and I were all at the grocery store, and I spotted this adorable stuffed animal kitten. I wanted it so badly, but my mom said no. For some reason, I decided to take it anyway. I tucked the kitten inside the front pocket of my overalls, hoping no one would notice. But, of course, my mom saw it the second we got to the car. I thought I was in the clear, but I was so wrong.

Without hesitation, my mom turned around and marched me back into the store. I remember feeling like I was about to cry. I was terrified. I had to go inside and tell the manager I’d stolen the stuffed animal and apologize. I could barely get the words out, and the whole thing was uncomfortable. But my mom made sure I did it–no getting out of it. It wasn’t easy, and I hated every second of it, but I knew she was right. It was the only way to fix the mistake I’d made.

Looking back, I realize how important that moment was. Her saying “What’s right is not always easy” really sums it up. It wasn’t easy for me to admit what I’d done, and it definitely wasn’t easy for my mom to make me do it. But she knew it was the right thing, and that lesson stuck with me. Sometimes doing the right thing is tough, but it’s always worth it in the end.

The older I get, the more I admire how my mom handled parenting moments like that one. She didn’t just tell us how to act—she modeled the kind of calm, intentional parenting that Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields talks about. She held boundaries with love, guided us with purpose, and showed us how to be better humans through her actions.