The Help~(Completed♡)

The difference

"You realize there's a big difference between a punishment and abuse, right?", I asked Rose as she sat across from me.

"I-I mean I guess. Like, a punishment is more out of love and worry but like, either way you're getting hit. Either way you're scared. Either way it's something that puts you on edge." I leaned over and laid my hand on hers,

"Kid, there's a huge difference."

"How? It's all blurry lines."

"Absolutely not. There are extremely clear lines love. I'm sorry I never explained this before, I should have."

"Will you now?"

"Of course." I sighed, "Listen, I only ever discipline you guys out of love and care and worry. Or fear-"

"Of what?"

"Of you guys going down the wrong path. You could get hurt or arrested or do something to yourselves. It's really scary raising kids, it's my favorite thing, but it's terrifying." I paused, "Abuse is about anger and taking your anger out on others. It's about pure hatred and nothing about it is love or care. It's not to help better a person. It's not a consequence because you don't have to make a mistake for it to happen. Discipline is a consequence of a mistake you made and after I've punished you for it, we usually leave it behind us. Rare cases are when they reoccur or it's something we have to continue talking about."

"Like what?"

"Like cutting. Or Rowan's drinking problem. Stuff that keeps happening. There is a very clear line between discipline and abuse and if that line every gets blurry or you think I cross it, you have to tell me. I won't get mad or upset, we'll stop and talk and figure out what I need to do to fix it and what I did in the first place. If it makes you feel better, we'll come up with a safeword."

"A what?"

"A safe word. Something you can say to stop whatever is happening at the moment so we can stop and fix things. It's not something you can abuse the power of and use to get out of punishments but it's for when you're scared or not in the right mindset to be disciplined and I don't notice. Usually I will notice but sometimes I don't."

"Okay. Is there like... an overall safeword or something?"

"Red."

"Can I just use that?"

"Sure." I paused, "You understand more now?"

"Discipline is out of love and concern when I make mistakes and to stop mistakes from reoccurring. Abuse is out of anger and no one benefits from it."

"Exactly. And I will never punish you and leave you after. Aftercare is just as important as the punishment itself. If I don't give you aftercare, I feel like you don't know I forgive you and you think I'm mad at you. Or sometimes maybe you're mad at me, in which case you need to tell me so we can figure out how to fix it. We don't hold grudges in this house, okay?" She nodded,

"Okay. What if I don't wanna be touched after?"

"Just tell me. I'll respect that, but I'll want an explanation and I might not leave you alone for awhile afterwards."

"Okay."

"Anything else?"

"Any ideas on what else could stall the inevitable?" I chuckled,

"Nope. Sorry kid." She sighed,

"Okay."

"First off, why'd you do it?" She shrugged,

"I-I think I'm just stressed and then she said I cheated and I really didn't Damon! I got scared of what she would tell you and what you would do and I channeled my stress and fear into anger towards her. I shouldn't have and I'm sorry I did. And I'm sorry I got I.S.S." I sighed,

"Kid, I understand that you got upset but it's not okay-"

"Do you believe me?"

"That you channeled stress and fear into anger towards her? Yeah, I'm pretty sure the whole lower hall believes you on that one kid."

"That I didn't cheat."

"Oh. Yes, I believe you. And I told principal Mavericks that too. You have no reason to cheat in science, you're doing fine. Just because you aced her final doesn't mean you cheated. I know you, I know when you're lying, and I looked at the test and I know key signs of you cheating. You suck at lying, at least to me."

"Thanks.", she smiled softly, "So how much trouble am I in?" I sighed,

"Phone." She placed it in my open hand. "You can have it back after you've finished I.S.S."

"Okay."

"You're grounded from leaving the house for two weeks."

"Okay."

"That's it."

"Wait really? You-You're not gonna like- um-"

"No, not this time." I paused, "But you're on thin ice while you're grounded so if you slip up, you'll be over my knee. Got it?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Come're.", I said hugging her tightly.