Forgot My Homework, Got A Little Spanking Too

So today was one of those days where you wake up feeling like you’ve already forgotten something. I’m a mommy now, and my little one (let’s just say they’re in their twenties but act younger) always expects me to be on top of things, even though he should know better by now. Anyway, we have this thing where if there's an important task that isn’t done, like bringing homework back from school, I get to remind him gently or with a little tap when we settle down for the evening. Today was one of those taps. Now, I’m not exactly a strict mom type; it’s mostly symbolic, a way to keep things light but also make sure responsibilities are remembered. But tonight, I found myself in the role more than usual because his forgetfulness made me feel like a disciplinarian from some bygone era. In my head, I kept thinking, “Come on, he’s in his twenties for crying out loud,” yet here we were going through this old routine. The tap wasn’t hard at all, more a reminder than anything else, and there was no pain involved, just the odd sensation of feeling a bit silly and guilty. We both laughed about it afterward. It’s weird how some simple gestures can feel so loaded when you’re in that kind of dynamic. I ended up doing his homework for him too because he had this big test tomorrow, but hey, maybe next time he’ll remember on his own.