I sat down and said quietly:
“I owe you an apology. I judged you without understanding your situation. I’m truly sorry.”
I reached for her hand. “You’re not failing. You’re hurting—and that’s different.”
Slowly, she opened up about the fear, the exhaustion, and the pressure she put on herself. She talked about the shame of not being the cheerful new mom she thought she should be.
I listened—really listened. And with every word, my guilt deepened.
When she finished, I held her hand and said, “You don’t have to face this alone.”
A small softness appeared in her expression. Maybe not complete forgiveness yet—just relief that someone finally understood.
Choosing to Help
Over the next few weeks, I offered support instead of criticism. I cooked dinners. Watched the baby. Helped with chores while she talked about therapy and recovery. I reminded her to rest, to eat, to trust herself a little more each day. Continue reading…
