<\/p>\n
I sank into the couch, Emily’s cries echoing from the nursery. Three months in, and I still had no idea how moms kept it together\u2014surviving colic, spit-up, and two-hour sleep stretches.<\/p>\n
Peter had called earlier.
\n\u201cHow are my girls?\u201d he asked.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re surviving,\u201d I said, bouncing Emily. \u201cYou\u2019re lucky you\u2019re not stuck here with this little tyrant.\u201d
\nHe laughed. \u201cYou\u2019re doing great. Mom said she could come by tomorrow. Let her help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa and I weren\u2019t exactly close. She wasn\u2019t cruel, just\u2026 judgmental. But I was desperate for rest.
\n\u201cFine,\u201d I said. \u201cBut not too long.\u201d<\/p>\n
She arrived right on time, casserole in hand.
\n\u201cOh, Alicia, you look pale,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can\u2019t pour from an empty cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
I tried to smile. \u201cIt\u2019s just been a lot.\u201d
\n\u201cYou should\u2019ve seen Peter as a baby,\u201d she went on. \u201cI never let myself get so run down.\u201d<\/p>\n
I handed her Emily and headed to bed, exhausted.<\/p>\n
Hours later, I woke to Emily’s screams. My phone and the baby monitor were missing. Panic hit. I ran to her room\u2014she was alone, in a dirty diaper.<\/p>\n
As I changed her, I saw Melissa outside, laughing on my<\/em> phone.<\/p>\n \u201cMelissa!\u201d I yelled, storming out. \u201cWhy was my daughter crying while you were out here? And why do you have my phone?\u201d<\/p>\n She blinked. \u201cPeter called. I didn\u2019t want to wake you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the monitor?\u201d \u201cThirty-seven minutes!\u201d I said. \u201cShe was alone for that<\/em> long?\u201d That was it. She stormed off. I held Emily close, trying to shake the guilt. Did I overreact? But no\u2014my daughter cried alone for nearly an hour.<\/p>\n Peter came home the next day. I told him everything.<\/p>\n \u201cShe meant well,\u201d he said. \u201cYou didn\u2019t have to kick her out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re defending her?\u201d \u201cBy taking my phone and leaving our baby unattended?\u201d<\/p>\n He sighed. \u201cShe already feels terrible. Now she might never help again.\u201d<\/p>\n I turned away, hurt. He never saw my side when it came to her.<\/p>\n That night, I kept replaying it all. Maybe I was harsh. Maybe I burned a bridge. But deep down, I knew\u2014my daughter deserved better.<\/p>\n Was I wrong?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\n\u201cI unplugged it. She wasn\u2019t crying when I left.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cYou\u2019re overreacting,\u201d she snapped. \u201cBe grateful I even came.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cGet out,\u201d I told her. \u201cAnd don\u2019t come back unless Peter\u2019s home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cShe was trying to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n