Serendipity

One of the hardest truths I had to accept early in my relationship was this: I was never going to be loved by my mother-in-law.

It’s a painful realization—one I saw my own parents experience, but never expected to feel so personally. I always hoped that whoever my in-laws were, they would come to love me. I thought that if I poured myself into loving my partner and showing up for her family, eventually, I would be accepted. I longed for that connection—for someone I could genuinely see as a second mother.

But life doesn’t always give us what we yearn for.

I chose an unconventional path. With that came uncertainty, instability, and the judgment that often follows. I knew what I was signing up for, but I also knew how hard I worked—and how deeply I loved her daughters. Still, that wasn’t enough. Not being accepted wasn’t just disappointing—it was heartbreaking. A kind of heartbreak no one really warns you about.

Years have passed, and still, part of me longs for her love. Still, I catch myself wishing she’d one day look at me and simply call me “son.”

That longing—feeling like I’m not fully accepted anywhere—has been a quiet weight I carry. And yet, I’m learning to live with it. To hold space for both the hurt and the healing. Some truths take time to accept. And that’s okay.