From the day I married Jake, his mom Sharon never hid her disapproval of me. Her subtle insults about my looks hurt, but I stayed silent for Jake’s sake. When I got pregnant, Sharon suddenly took control, planning a gender reveal dinner she called “small.” Still, I had a feeling something wasn’t quite right.

On the reveal night, over 25 people crowded the house nothing like the intimate gathering I expected. Sharon greeted me warmly, but her forced cheer and the big crowd made me uneasy. Jake noticed too and quietly confronted his mom, but she shrugged off his concerns like it was nothing.

Then, during the toast, instead of celebrating, Sharon mocked my nose in front of everyone. She compared it to hers and hoped the baby wouldn’t inherit it. Awkward laughter filled the room, but Jake stood up for me, speaking about love and respect and calling out his mother’s cruelty.

We left right after, feeling both relieved and united. Jake promised to protect me and our daughter from toxicity no matter the cost. It hurts to keep Sharon at a distance, but our family’s peace and safety must always come first.