On a typical Tuesday evening, I walked into my in-laws’ house to find my children with completely empty plates, while their nieces and nephews were eating their third helping of lasagna from a “real” dinner set. Eighteen minutes later, I quietly decided I’d had enough of being their personal ATM, and that something in this family was about to go wrong in a way no one expected.

Or maybe I was just afraid to see it, because seeing it would mean choosing between my children and the family I so desperately wanted to be a part of.

Memories flooded back to six years ago, which I saw from a new perspective.

Mia’s sixth birthday, where Addison and Roger brought Harper and Liam elaborate gifts—remote-control cars and American Girl dolls—and Mia received a $20 gift card to Target. I reminded myself that they were on a budget, that handmade gifts were more meaningful anyway, and that Mia didn’t need material things to know