I've been married to the singer and songwriter Shawn Mendes for almost seventeen years now. Our oldest daughter, Rose Lucille Mendes, recently turned sixteen and got her permit - we also had a sweet sixteen party for her. Our middle child is Jacob Alexander Scott Mendes, he's fourteen, and our youngest child is Julia Kennedy Mendes, she's twelve. Shawn, the kids, and I were sitting at the table having dinner when Rose brought up the fact that she just got her permit.

"That means that I can get my license soon." She said. Shawn and I nodded.

"Yup. Anytime that you want me to teach you how to drive, I'd be more than happy to." Shawn said. Rose smiled at him.

"The same goes for me. I would love to help you learn how to drive." I said. Rose's smile faded.

"I think that I would rather have Daddy teach me how to drive." She said. I nodded.

"Oh. Okay, it's totally up to you." I said. She's the biggest Daddy's girl I know, she always has been.

"Well your mother's also a really good driver." Shawn said. I smiled at him.

"I feel like she would be too nervous in the car." Rose said.

"Well that's just an assumption, a guess. You never know until you try." I said. Rose rolled her eyes.

"Whatever." She said, attitude laced in her voice.

"Hey, don't start giving me an attitude young lady." I said. She sighed.

"Anyways, so I was thinking, for a car -" She started.

"Rosie, before you continue about a car that you wouldn't be able to drive yet because you don't have your license yet, could you please apologize to your mother for rolling your eyes and giving her an attitude?" Shawn asked.

"Sorry mom." She said. I could tell that she didn't mean it.

"Could you say it like you mean it please?" Shawn asked. She looked at me.

"I'm sorry that I gave you an attitude." She said. I nodded.

"Thank you." I said.

"You're welcome. Um, so, I know that I don't have my license yet, but what do you think of me having a BMW?" Rose asked. Shawn and I nearly spit out our drinks.

"You want a BMW for your first car?" I asked. She nodded.

"Yeah. What's the problem with that?" Rose asked.

"Those can get expensive." Shawn said. Rose looked at him as if he was speaking some language that she had never heard.

"But Daddy, you have plenty of money, you could afford it. Honestly, I'm surprised that we even live here. I mean, we could totally afford a bigger house, like a mansion or something." Rose said. I felt furious.

"Rose Lucille Mendes, your father and I didn't raise you to become spoiled. Yes, your dad and I are able to afford that stuff -" I started before she cut me off, not just with her words, but with a look that was as if she was shooting daggers through her eyes at me.

"No mom, you don't have the money for that stuff. Dad does. That's the only reason why you're with him." Rose said.

"Rose Lucille Mendes!" Shawn yelled.

"Excuse me?" I asked, wanting to make sure I heard her correctly. She crossed her arms.

"You're only with Daddy for his money. I mean come on, he's a millionaire, and you probably don't even make seventy thousand a year." She said. I wanted to leave the room, but that would mean that she would win, and I couldn't let that happen, not with this anyways. I didn't take my eyes off of her as I spoke.

"Jake, Julia, go up to your rooms please. You can finish your dinner later or take your plates up there with you." I said.

"Okay." They said. As soon as they were out of the room, I began to speak.

"You have no right to be speaking to me like this. I carried you for nine months, I spent ten hours in labor with you, and I have done so much for you. Whenever your father is away, who do you go to?" I asked.

"You." She said as she looked at her plate.

"Exactly. And you've come to me for more things. I am beyond in love with your father. I would still love him just as much if he was broke and living on the streets. No, we don't live in a mansion, and yes, we can afford it, but you know what? We don't need that. We don't need the extra rooms to clean and all of the extra space. When your father and I bought this house, we knew that it would be our forever home, somewhere that we could raise our kids. And would you look at that? We have been raising our kids here." I said.

"And you want to know something Rose?" Shawn asked.

"Yeah." She said.

"Obviously your mother and I are husband and wife. That means that what's mine is hers, and what's hers is mine. That includes money. This house may not be a mansion, but it's bigger than other houses and it's a nice neighborhood. You should be grateful." Shawn said. She nodded.

"Okay. I'm sorry." She said. We nodded.

"Thank you for apologizing." Shawn said and I nodded.

"I'll go get Jake and Julia." I said. Shawn nodded.

"Okay. I love you baby." He said. I smiled at him.

"I love you too honey." I said before heading upstairs. I knocked on Jake's door.

"Come in!" He said. I walked in and him and Julia were talking.

"Hi. Sorry about that. You guys can come back down now." I said. They nodded and came back downstairs. After dinner and after the dishes were done, I put on a jacket and some shoes.

"Where are you going babe? The kids and I are going to watch a movie." Shawn asked and said.

"I'll be right there, I just need some fresh air." I said. Shawn nodded.

"Okay." He said. I stepped out onto our back deck and sighed as a tear slipped out. I sniffled a little bit. I've done so beyond much for Rose, and this is how she treats me? I've always been there for her when she needs me. She's my daughter, the one that made me a mother, and I love her more than words will ever be able to describe. I heard the door to the deck open. I turned around and saw Shawn shutting the door behind him.

"Hi." I said with a sniffle as he came closer to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. He gently pulled me nice and close to him.

"Hey. I don't like seeing you cry honey. It breaks my heart." Shawn said as he wiped away some tears with the pad of his thumb.

"I'm sorry." I said.

"It's okay darling. Tell me what's going on in that beautiful head of yours." Shawn said.

"I'm not with you for your money, and so many people say that to me all the time, but then to have my own daughter say it to me? That hurts." I said. Shawn rubbed my back.

"I know baby, I know." He said.

"I'm not with you for your money Shawn, I promise. It's never been your money, it's always been because I love who you are as a person." I said. Shawn pulled me in closer to him.

"Oh honey I know that. I know that you love me, I can see it in your eyes." Shawn said. I nodded my head against his chest.

"I'm sorry that I don't make as much money as you." I said.

"Honey, I don't care about how much money you make, I care about you as a person." He said. I moved so I was leaning against the railing and he did the same.

"Shawn, you make millions a year. Me? I make about sixty five thousand a year." I said.

"So what? I don't give a damn about that. Don't let what Rose said get to you." Shawn said and I nodded.

"Okay. By the way, we are not getting her a BMW. I firmly believe that someone's first car should be a used car, so when they eventually get their own car, and it's newer, they appreciate it more." I said.

"I know honey. You know what? We can get her a BMW, it'll just be a used one." Shawn said. I nodded and wiped my tears away.

"Okay. Let's go back inside, it's cold out." I said. Shawn nodded.

"Okay baby. Do you want to sit on my lap while we watch the movie?" He asked. I nodded and gave him a quick kiss.

"Yeah." I said. We then went inside, took our shoes and jackets off, and I sat on Shawn's lap. Shawn's jacket had been heavier than mine, plus he's from Canada so he's used to the cold.

"Jake, could you toss me that blanket please? Your mother's shivering." Shawn asked and said. I smiled a little.

"Sure." Jake said and handed it to his father.

"Thank you Jakey boy." Shawn said.

"You're welcome." Jake said. Shawn then wrapped the blanket around him and I.

"There you go. Better?" Shawn asked. I nodded.

"Yeah. Thank you." I said.

"Anything for my girl." Shawn said. I blushed and kissed his cheek. About two weeks after Rose got her license, Shawn and I bought Rose a used BMW. It was less than six thousand dollars, which was amazing compared to the sixty three thousand dollar BMW that she had told us that she wanted. Shawn and I drove to the used car dealership in one car, and then I drove my car back, and he drove Rose's new car back. We put a bow on it.

"Ready to show Rose her car?" I asked Shawn when we woke up the next day. He smiled and nodded.

"Yeah. After breakfast we'll give it to her." Shawn said and I nodded.

"Okay. Can I have a kiss please?" I asked. Shawn smiled and nodded. He put his lips on mine and I felt my heart race as if I had just run a marathon, I felt sparks shoot through my body, and I felt butterflies erupt and fly around in my tummy. Shawn and I soon pulled away and smiled at each other.

"I love you Mrs. Mendes." Shawn said.

"Seventeen years later and hearing you call me Mrs. Mendes still makes my heart flutter. I love you too Mr. Mendes." I said. Shawn chuckled and we got out of bed. After breakfast, Shawn smiled at Rose. I hope that she appreciates this car.

"So, Rose, would you like to see your surprise?" Shawn asked. She nodded.

"Yes!" She said.

"Can Jake and I come too?" Julia asked. Shawn and I nodded.

"Yup." I said. We then all got our shoes on and stepped outside. I looked at Rose, who saw the car. Shawn went towards the car and gestured towards it.

"Look Rosie! Your mother and I got you a car!" He said with a smile. She hesitantly walked towards it.

"I asked for a BMW." She said. Here we go.

"It is a BMW." Shawn said as he pointed out the logo.

"Well it's not the BMW that I asked for." She said with an attitude.

"First of all, you can drop the attitude, and second of all, that car costed over sixty thousand dollars. Your mother and I believe that everyone's first car should be a used car, so when you get a newer car, you'll appreciate it more." Shawn said.

"And look Rose, if you want, you can put one of those cute steering wheel covers on your steering wheel. You can put bumper stickers on it, stuff like that." I said as I moved to be next to Shawn. Rose crossed her arms as she looked at the car with a disgusted look.

"I just don't understand. If we can afford better, why did you guys get me this one?" Rose asked.

"I've already explained that to you, but I guess I should explain it again: your mother and I believe that your first car should be a used car, so that way when you get a newer one, you'll appreciate it more." Shawn said.

"I don't want this piece of junk." Rose said with an attitude as she kicked the tire a little bit.

"Okay, you don't want it? Your mother and I, will take it back to the dealership, and you won't have a car at all. Also, you just got yourself grounded for two weeks. Your mother and I do so much for you. Start appreciating it." Shawn said. Her eyes widened.

"What? Daddy you've never grounded me." She said.

"Well I'm sick of you giving us an attitude. You're my daughter, I love you, and I hate to say this, but lately you've been acting like an entitled and spoiled brat. You either take this car - which you won't be able to drive for two weeks now because you're grounded - or you don't get a car at all and have to save up your own money to buy one, which would take much longer. Which option do you want to pick?" Shawn asked as he crossed his arms. Rose sighed and ran her fingers through her hair.

"I'll keep the car." She said.

"Okay. It'll sit here for two weeks. I want your phone, and I want your laptop. You're only allowed to have those back for school purposes. If I catch you on any electronic device during these two weeks, the tv, your laptop, your phone, anything, your grounding will only get longer. Understand?" Shawn asked. She nodded.

"Yes, I understand." She said.

"Good. Do you have your phone on you right now?" He asked. She nodded.

"Yes." She said. Shawn stuck out his hand.

"I want your phone now please and the second we get in the house I want your laptop." Shawn said.

"So what am I supposed to do for the next two weeks? How am I supposed to hang out with my friends?" She asked.

"You're not allowed to hang out with your friends. You can read a book. Can you hand me your phone now please?" Shawn asked. She handed it to him. "Thank you."

"What book am I supposed to read?" She asked.

"Maybe start with one that has to do with appreciating what your parents do for you. Let's go inside so I can get your laptop." Shawn said. I could tell that he was furious. We went inside and Rose went upstairs to get her laptop. I turned to Jake and Julia.

"You guys understand not to let her use your laptops or phones, right?" I asked. They nodded.

"Yeah." They said.

"Good, thank you." I said. Rose gave Shawn her laptop.

"Thank you. I'm going to hide this stuff. You'll get them back when you head to school, but that's it. I want them back the second that you get home." Shawn said.

"Okay." Rose said. Shawn headed upstairs to hide them. Rose had tears in her eyes. I felt slightly bad but not really. She turned to me. "What am I supposed to do while I'm grounded?"

"Read a book, color, draw, journal, anything that doesn't have to do with electronics. I'll continue to drive you and your siblings to school while you're grounded." I said. She nodded and wiped some tears away.

"Okay. Um, you have a lot of books, which you probably bought with Daddy's money -" She started before I cut her off.

"Rose, we literally just told you to learn to be more appreciative and that we're sick of the attitude. I know that your father said that, but I feel the same way. I'm also tired of the disrespect. No, I didn't buy every single book that I own, and yes some of them were gifts from your father, but I never, not once asked your father if he could buy anything for me. Any of the books he gave me were gifts, I didn't ask him to buy them for me." I said as Shawn walked back into the living room.

"What's going on?" He asked, so I told him. He sighed.

"Please don't be disappointed in me Daddy." Rose said as she wiped more tears away.

"How else am I supposed to feel Rose? I love you dearly, but your mother and I did not raise you like this." Shawn said. Rose cried more, which broke my heart.

"I'm sorry, I really am. Um, mom, would it be okay if I took a look at your books and read some of them?" She asked.

"That's fine." I said.

"Okay, thank you. Um, I'm just curious, which ones are from Daddy?" She asked.

"I'll show you. Come here." I said. We walked closer to the bookcase and sat down on the floor.

"He bought all of these?" Rose asked. I shook my head.

"No, but some of them are. Him and I had this tradition after we got engaged. I was on tour with him during the summer, and in every city we went to, we would stop at a local bookstore." I said, smiling as I remembered those memories.

"Really?" Rose asked. I nodded.

"Yup. He got me this one during one of our stops and wrote in it a little bit actually." I said as I pulled out Edgar Holmes's For When She's Feeling Blue. I handed it to Rose and she opened it up.

"Mind if I read it out loud a little?" She asked as her fingers touched where Shawn had written "This is how I feel about you babe!"

"That's fine." I said. Shawn sat down on the floor next to me and pulled me into his lap. Rose began to read it out loud.

"Blue i know that nothing can cure the sadness / embedded deep with your heart / but love / can crack open your shell and let in the light / my love, i will always be here when you / need me most / to love you / and hold you close / i know that sometimes / you feel / as if the world is collapsing on top of your head / but do not lose hope because i know you / and i know that you are strong enough / to hold up the chaos and find your peace / even when it seems impossible / i hate their ignorant / statements / the way they tell you to stop worrying / or think positive thoughts as if such trite / quips could suddenly cure / the chemical imbalance in your brain / if only depression was that simple i wish / that i was able to take the burden off your shoulders / and though i cannot voyage into your mind / and help you carry / your sadness and fear / know that i / am right here beside you through it all / you taught me that pain / is not something to hide, / that scars shouldn't be hidden under long / sleeved shirts i wish that my love for you / could overflow these pages and inscribe / itself permanently / onto your skin / so that you never forget you are / l o v e d you cannot help but compare / yourself to everyone else / but know this, my love there is no one / on earth who compares to you in any way / you are my definition of perfect / i love the way / your eyes look" Rose read.

"He bought me some other books too, like these ones." I said as I began pointing out the books that Shawn had gotten me. Rose had stopped crying by now and nodded.

"Do you mind if I borrow a few and go up to my room to read them?" Rose asked.

"That's fine." I said and she nodded. Jake and Julia then went upstairs to, leaving Shawn and I alone.

"I feel bad." Shawn said.

"Why?" I asked as we sat down on the couch.

"I just grounded my oldest child. I've never done that before." He said as he rubbed his face.

"Well you kind of had to. If she's going to act like that, she should suffer the consequences." I said. Shawn pulled me into his lap again and rubbed my back.

"So you think that I did the right thing?" Shawn asked. I nodded.

"Definitely." I said. Shawn nodded and kissed my cheek.

"I just need to cuddle with my wife right now." Shawn said. I smiled.

"Then let's cuddle baby." I said. Shawn and I laid on the couch and cuddled. Rose's behavior got better, and after two weeks, she was able to drive the car that she grew to love - a used BMW.