On Mother’s Day, My MIL Made Me Pay for Everyone’s Meal Because I Was the Only One Without Kids – and Called It My ‘Gift’ to the Real Moms

 

I never thought I’d share personal family drama online, but here we are. I’m 35 and have been married to Ryan for nearly 10 years. We’ve gone through endless fertility treatments, losses, and heartbreak. Talking about it has become too painful.

More than anything, I’ve always wanted to be a mom. But it just didn’t happen—until now.

This past Mother’s Day, my MIL Cheryl invited me, my two sisters-in-law, and no husbands to a “ladies-only” dinner. Ryan encouraged me to go. “Just smile and get through it,” he said.

Cheryl has always made me feel less-than for not having kids. She’s all about tradition and loudly believes motherhood is a woman’s greatest purpose. She dotes on her grandkids and never lets me forget I’m not a mother—yet.

At dinner, she handed out Mother’s Day gifts to Amanda and Holly, ordered prosecco “for the moms,” and left me out entirely. I smiled through it all until dessert, when she tapped her glass and said, “Since you’re not a mother, maybe you can treat us this year.” Then she slid me the $367 bill.

I stayed calm. I paid for my part—$25—and said, “Actually, I have something to share too. Ryan and I are adopting. We got the call this morning. A baby girl. She’s being born tomorrow.”

The table went silent.

I added, “So technically, this is my first Mother’s Day.”

Then I walked out.

The next morning, we flew to Denver. When the nurse placed Maya in my arms, everything changed. Her birth mom named her “Maya,” meaning illusion—and it felt right. Because for so long, I believed motherhood had to happen a certain way.

Cheryl hasn’t called me since. And that’s okay.

Because I’m Maya’s mom now. And that’s all I’ve ever wanted to be.