The call came late in the afternoon, just as the sun was beginning to soften the edges of the day. My mom’s voice sounded worn, thinner than usual, like she had been carrying something heavy for far too long. She asked if I could pick up my younger brother from school. There was no explanation,…
For months, my children would grow quiet and tearful whenever it was time to visit their grandmother’s house. I assumed it was the usual resistance kids have to routine changes—new rules, unfamiliar surroundings, fewer toys. My husband brushed it off as well, reminding me that his mother was strict but loving, and that children often…
