The Christmas Sisters

I'm saying that being a good mom isn't just about protecting your kids from hurt, it's about showing them how to cope with hurt. It's about teaching them resilience and giving them the tools to handle whatever comes their way.

...family was everything to Posy. It was a warm blanket on a cold day, a safety net when you fell, a chorus of support when you attempted something hard.

This is embarrassing.” Hannah sniffed. “I'm too old to be crying on your shoulder.” “You're never too old to cry on your dad's shoulder, although I have to admit I hate to see you cry.

She loved living here, in this land of mist and mountains, of lochs and legend.

She’d done everything she could to compensate and influence the future. She wanted nothing but good for her daughters and the burden of it was huge. It weighed her down, and there were days when it almost crushed her. And she’d made him carry the burden, too. Survivor’s guilt. “I worry I haven’t done enough. Or that I haven’t done it right.” “I’m sure every parent thinks that from time to time.

She was messing with you, Jason. Taking advantage.” “Yeah, kids are like predators. They sense weakness and pounce.

He said he loved her, but love, as she well knew, was unreliable. Like Christmas, it came with expectations.

But you can't raise kids to believe life is always going to be smooth. Sometimes life throws rocks at you, and when that happens, they need to learn to dodge when they can and get back up if they're hit. You need to teach them to handle the rocks.

She felt a moment of anxiety as she contemplated all the things that could go wrong, but her anger was too great for her to back down. And anyway, she knew exactly what would happen. As soon as she was out of the door, he’d call his mother.

— Si tu sens que tu vas t’évanouir, préviens-moi et je te rattraperai. — Tu m’as déjà vu défaillir ? Il prit un morceau de pain frais dans la corbeille. — La première fois que tu as posé les yeux sur moi, ce n’est pas passé loin. Mais c’était une réaction normale.

Beth had always known she wanted children. What she hadn’t known was how much of herself she’d have to give up.