Mike's pov

It's been 2 months since Stacey and Julie toddled into my life. 2 very long albeit fulfilling , challenging, and exhausting months. Without a doubt they've captured my heart. Cheesy, I know but true nonetheless. Today Neil tells me my 2 are about to become 3. Lisa is joining us today. Is he insane?

I have no idea what I'm doing. I already pray every night that I don't scar these 2 young lives with my ignorance. Now I have 3 to worry about. Maybe Neil secretly despises me. Did I do something to piss him off at the hospital when we worked together? I wish I had as much faith in my parenting ability as he does. Come on, I'm flying by the seat of my pants here.

Yesterday I left the cousins alone for 2 minutes while I was in the washroom. When I walked back into the room my jaw dropped. They had managed to pop both of their beanbag chairs and had thousands of the little pellets everywhere. EVERYWHERE. I lost it. "GIRLS. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED " I regretted saying hell as soon as the word left my mouth, but I was so angry. No excuse right? That's my whole point. I don't know how to negotiate with terrorists and I certainly don't know how to have a calm rational discussion with 6 year olds.

This wasn't going to be the first time I spanked them but it was going to be a time they remembered. Stacey and Julie looked wide eyed at me. Their little lips started to quiver as tears welled in their eyes. They so do not play fair. Who am I kidding the playing field was never level. At 2 o'clock this afternoon it was about to tip even more in their favor.

Putting on my best steely resolve I looked at them and said "here's what's going to happen. You're both getting a spanking then you're going to spend the rest of the afternoon cleaning up this mess you made. Do you understand me?" I looked both of them directly in the eyes expecting an answer. Neil taught me from the beginning to set clear limits and not back down. I originally thought that was excessive but after 2 months with the master manipulators I rescind that comment.

"Stacey you start cleaning up. Julie you come with me" The girls looked at me, then looked at each other then back to me.

"RIGHT NOW " I said.

I took Julie into my room, pulled my desk chair out and set it in the middle of the floor. I sat down and said "over my knee"

Julie slowly walked over with tears in her eyes. I guided her face down over my lap, laid my right hand on her back and took a deep breath. This was a necessary evil according to Neil.

I've never had an issue with corporal punishment per se. My father was a chaplain in the military before becoming a missionary and he never "spared the rod."

I have to admit it was different now that I was on the delivering end vs the receiving end. I'm not going to tell you 'this hurts me more than it hurts you'. We all know that's bullshit, I mean if that's the case then you're not doing it right.

Still it wasn't a task I enjoyed, but at times it was necessary.

Hmm I guess Neil was right. I could feel Julie tense up as she lay across my lap anticipating what was to come. I spanked her firmly delivering 15 swats to her jean clad bottom. I knew she started sobbing around #9 by the way her shoulders shook.

The last 6 were the ones to remember though. Those would be the reason she would have a hard time sitting down tomorrow.

I pulled her off my lap, stood her in front of me and asked "do you know why I spanked you? "

She nodded avoiding eye contact. I gently tipped her chin up with my hand "look at me Julie." I waited until she looked me in the eye.

"Tell me why"

She sniffled as she said " because we were bad an' made a mess"

"You know it was wrong to break the beanbag chairs and spread the pellets around" I said more as a statement than a query.

She nodded and wrapped her arms around my neck as I pulled her into a hug.

"Go tell your cousin to come to my room then start cleaning up" I sent her off with a gentle swat on her bottom.