My Mom Said, “Everyone Will Get Something Small.” My Boy Got Socks. My Sister’s Kids Got Phones. He Asked, “Did I Do Something Wrong, Mommy?” I Just Hugged Him. That Night, I Smiled… And Removed Everyone From My HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN

When the last guest left and I was cleaning up wrapping paper and cake crumbs, Lucas came up to me. His voice was so small.

“Mama, did I do something wrong? Is that why they didn’t come?”

I pulled him into my arms, fighting tears.

“No, baby. You didn’t do anything wrong. Not a single thing.”

But sitting here now, reading my father’s text demanding money for Tyler’s graduation party, I realized something. This wasn’t the first time. It wasn’t even the second time. This was a pattern. And I had been too blind—or too hopeful, or too desperate for their approval—to see it clearly.

Continue reading…