My stepmother, Kate, expected me to call her “Mom” the moment she entered my life. But I knew better. I had a mom, Jessica, who had been there for me through thick and thin. Kate, on the other hand, was still learning what it meant to be a parent.
At first, I played along, pretending to accept her as my mother. But as time went on, I realized that she wasn’t willing to put in the effort to truly understand me. She didn’t know my favorite cereal, my interests, or what made me tick. So, I decided to show her what being a real parent looked like.
On her birthday, I asked her to make my favorite breakfast, knowing she wouldn’t know what that was. And when I was feeling unwell, I asked her to make me ginger tea, just like Jessica always did. But Kate was too busy to care.
My plan was to make her realize that being a parent wasn’t just about titles or labels, but about showing love, care, and attention. I bombarded her with texts, asking for advice and sharing my daily life, but she struggled to keep up.
Finally, the truth came out in a family meeting. Kate admitted that she had been pushing me to call her “Mom” because she wanted to feel important, but she realized that she hadn’t earned the right to be called that. I appreciated her honesty, and my dad seemed to respect her for it.
In the end, I learned that some words, like “Mom,” can’t be forced. They have to be earned through love, care, and dedication. And I was happy to have a stepmom who was willing to learn and grow.
