“I was just so shocked when I found out you went to Disney without me. I mean, can you blame me?
I’m their mother.”
“Right,” I said. “The same mother who didn’t care when Victor told you we were going camping.”
“That’s not the same.”
“It is, though,” I said. “You didn’t care about the trip when you thought it was beneath you, Emma.
But when you found out it was something fun, suddenly, it was a betrayal?”
She opened her mouth, then closed it.
I leaned forward, locking eyes with her.
“This is why Victor is so high-strung, Emma. Why your kids are so quiet at home… Everyone is scared to be themselves because of your behavior.”
“That’s not…” Her eyes widened.
“But you know what, Emma?” I cut her off. “They’ve had a taste of what life is like without you controlling everything.
And they were happy. So if I were you? I’d change my behavior.
Fast.”
Emma’s breath hitched.
For the first time ever, she looked… shaken.
“I just…” She swallowed. “I just want to be included.”
“You don’t want inclusion, Emma,” I said. “You want control.
And this time? You lost it.”
Silence stretched between us.
Then Emma—proud, stubborn, holier-than-thou Emma—let out a shaky breath.
“I’m sorry, Bill.”
I studied her. She looked uncomfortable saying it, but there was something real in her eyes.
Maybe for the first time, she actually saw herself.
“Good. Now do something about it,” I nodded slowly.
She nodded, standing quickly, smoothing out her skirt like that moment of vulnerability had never happened.
“I should go.”
“Yeah, you should.”
“Bill?” she said, hesitating at the door.
“Thank you. For taking care of them.
All three of them.”
I didn’t reply. I just gave her a nod.
Emma left without another word. And for the first time in years, I think Emma had finally understood that I wasn’t the problem.
What would you have done?
Source: amomama
