Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Sarah gave her daughter a skeptical look, an eyebrow raised. "This petulant display has not changed my mind," she said.

"I'm not submissive!"

The two women stood in the middle of the bathroom staring at each other. "Is my accusation making you uncomfortable?"

"Of course it is!" Erica declared.

"You still haven't said 'no', sweetie," her mother said. Erica blinked. "You've pushed back against me, but you haven't told me to stop."

'What... Mom, what are you saying?"

"For example, if I told you to do something, would you stand up to me?"

"You..." Erica paused to collect herself before trying to speak again. "You're my mom... You wouldn't do something like that to me."

"Sometimes," Sarah said, "it takes some tough love to for somebody to fix the things that are happening in their life."

"Mom..." Erica tried to protest.

"What would you do," Sarah interrupted, "if I asked you to do something like your so-called 'friends' would?"

"Please," Erica pleaded.

Sarah hugged her daughter. "Do you see what I mean, sweetie. You're clearly uncomfortable and you know you can trust me, but you still haven't said 'no'."

"Mom..."

"Tell me 'no', and we can go back outside, to the gate and your dad and your brother. I'll even buy you an ice cream from one of the shops on the way back, but you have to prove to me that you can fight back. That you are not submissive and can stand up for yourself."