Whatever resentment I had toward Gavin belonged between us, not Alison.
So, when he married Janice, I made an effort.
Whenever she acted entitled or treated every room like it revolved around her, I kept my mouth shut.
Even when she made little comments about my parenting or tried to position herself as Alison’s « mother figure, » I refused to react.
Once, during a drop-off, Janice looked at Alison’s lunchbox and sighed.
« You know, children really shouldn’t have this much fruit, » she remarked. « There’s a lot of sugar in it. »
Another time, she called Alison’s bedtime routine « too dependent on Ria. »
I wanted to argue, but I only smiled.
« Thanks for letting me know. »
Gavin and I shared custody equally, and I wasn’t going to give either of them an excuse to say I was interfering with his relationship with our daughter.
