This Thanksgiving, after we managed a hard-earned feast, my son Ethan refused to eat and seemed off. Later, he tearfully confessed that my mom had told him hurtful things about our family—that we’re poor, Dad’s lazy, and we’re not a “real” family because we don’t have everything others do.
My heart broke hearing this, but Mark and I reassured Ethan that love, not money, defines a family. We told him we’d no longer have my mom pick him up, needing a break from her negativity.
The next day, I confronted my mom. She dismissed her words as “honest” but didn’t understand the harm. Mark and I decided to cut her off for good, telling her to leave. Ethan is thriving now, and though it’s tough without my mom, I know it was the right choice.
My advice: Protect your kids, even if it means distancing from family. The holidays should be about love, not stress. Do what’s best for your family.
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