You Grow Old Beautifully

K's mom has no idea what she's doing. She's pushing her entire family away. Her husband, who was once so afraid of divorce, now would rather she was gone. Her daughter hates her, and her son only loves her from obligation. And she's brought it all on herself. What parent, what person, can do that without realizing what it's doing to the people around you, the people you love?

And now it's spread to me because I'm "the other woman," because I'm not the perfect girl she always pictured K with, because we're not BFFs. The thing is, she spent so much time trying to get me to like her that she never spent any time getting to know me. I'm not the most open person; when I'm not onstage, I don't like being in the spotlight; I'm not outgoing; I can't start conversations with people I don't know very well; I'm a little awkward.

But what should matter to her is that he loves me. And I love him. Apparently that's not enough for her. I have to be outgoing and intelligent and talented and musical. I have to be everything she wishes she was. I just wish she could step back and look at what this is doing to her family, to her relationships.

If K and I do get married, if we do have children, I'm not letting that woman anywhere near them. Despite the fact that she deserves none of my respect, I give it to her, and she repays me by telling E I'm not good enough, by being offended by my "indifference," by wishing K was dating K. I've seen how she's tearing her family apart, and I'm not letting her break mine.