“I Never Imagined My Son Would Change So Much. My Daughter-in-Law Treats Me Like an Outsider”: I Can’t Even Ask How They Are

It had been seven years since Lily’s son, Nathan, married Isabella. Initially, everything seemed perfect. Nathan, who had always been a gentle and considerate son, fell deeply in love with Isabella, a charming and seemingly kind-hearted woman. Lily remembered the sparkle in Nathan’s eyes on his wedding day and how hopeful she had been about their future together.

However, as the years passed, Lily noticed a shift in their relationship, particularly in how Isabella treated her. It started subtly—missed calls that were never returned, invitations that got lost in the mail, holidays where Nathan and Isabella were perpetually too busy to visit. Lily tried to stay positive, attributing the change to the couple’s busy lives. Nathan had become a successful architect, and Isabella was climbing the corporate ladder in a prestigious marketing firm.

Lily’s attempts to maintain a relationship with them became increasingly one-sided. She would drive the two hours to their modern townhouse in the city, usually unannounced because her calls would go unanswered. Each visit left her more disheartened. Isabella would greet her with a forced smile, then quickly find an excuse to disappear, often claiming a sudden work emergency. Nathan, who used to chat with Lily for hours, now seemed distracted, his responses short and his attention elsewhere.

The house was immaculate, a stark contrast to the warm, lived-in home where Nathan had grown up. Lily tried to bring warmth with her, baking Nathan’s favorite cookies or bringing along family photo albums, hoping to spark a conversation about old times. But these efforts were met with polite indifference from Isabella and, heartbreakingly, from Nathan as well.

One particularly cold December, Lily decided to try once more. She arrived with a Christmas tree, hoping to surprise them and perhaps kindle some holiday spirit. But when she rang the doorbell, laden with gifts and a tree, it was not Nathan who answered, but Isabella. Her expression was not one of welcome but of annoyance.

“Really, Lily? We’ve already got a tree,” Isabella said, pointing to a sleek, designer tree in the corner, its lights perfectly symmetrical and devoid of the homemade ornaments Lily had cherished.

“I just thought…” Lily’s voice trailed off, the joy of the season dimming in her eyes.

Isabella sighed, her impatience thinly veiled. “Look, Lily, Nathan’s really busy. And frankly, it’s a bit exhausting having to entertain these surprise visits. Maybe call next time? Actually, text. That’s better.”

The words stung, and the door closed before Lily could respond. Standing there, on the cold front porch, the realization hit her hard. Her son had changed, or perhaps he hadn’t, and it was merely the situation that had revealed truths too painful to acknowledge. The drive home was a blur, the festive lights of the city mocking her with their cheer.

Lily never stopped loving her son, but she accepted that her place in his life was not what it once was. The calls became less frequent, and the visits stopped altogether. She kept sending cards for birthdays and holidays, each one a silent testament to a mother’s enduring love, unanswered but undeterred.