I was laid bare. My people pleasing, image-conscious tendencies had slowly and steadily infected my mothering. And with one simple question, she had exposed me. From the outside, everything looked fine. When my kids were young, I remember my sister-in-law telling me, “You all are just the perfect little family!” I knew the truth. If you peered beneath the surface, the picture wasn’t exactly perfect — for a variety of reasons. However, when my oldest turned 12, a powder keg seemed to go off. She began to act out and assert her preteen independence. At the same time, my son was struggling with his own …
