Chapter 12 - Diane Thought Losing Access to Emma Was Punishment Against Her
Mom arrived at my house two days later.
I did not let her inside.
We spoke on:
the porch.
“Why am I off the pickup list?”
“Because you told Vanessa she had authority over Emma.”
“I am not Vanessa.”
“You encouraged it.”
“I was trying to help.”
“Then help now.”
“How?”
“Respect the boundary.”
Mom started crying.
“You’re cutting me off from my granddaughter because your sister lost her temper.”
“No.”
“I’m pausing unsupervised access because you still think the problem is Vanessa’s temper.”
“What is it then?”
“Emma did not believe she could ask for food without being judged.”
“Emma believed crying for me was bad.”
“Emma believed Vanessa outranked me.”
“You helped teach that.”
Mom shook her head.
“No.”
I took out my phone.
Read:
You have my permission to be tougher than Rachel likes.
Mom looked away.
“I shouldn’t have written that.”
“No.”
Then:
“I was frustrated.”
“So was Vanessa.”
“Emma is still four.”
Mom whispered:
“I know.”
Finally.
Not:
but.
May you like
A start.
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