My mother-in-law, Patricia, always looked down on our modest family heirlooms. She came from wealth, and I came from a loving but simple family. Despite knowing my mother since childhood, Patricia had always mocked her for being from a working-class background, making cruel comments about hand-me-downs, public transport, and homemade lunches. Over the years, Patricia continued to belittle me, making snide remarks about my modest upbringing and heirlooms. My mother always responded with grace, reminding her that true value lies in kindness and how people treat others, but Patricia never seemed to listen,

For her sixty-fifth birthday, Patricia decided to host a jewelry appraisal party to flaunt her wealth. She invited my mother and me, intending to show us how much our humble “trinkets” paled in comparison to her extravagant jewels. Despite my reservations, my mother wanted to attend, insisting it would be interesting.At the party, Patricia’s friends—all draped in diamonds—laughed and whispered as the jeweler appraised each piece of jewelry. When it was my mother’s turn, she presented a modest necklace and ring, family heirlooms passed down for generations. Patricia mocked them, calling them quaint, but the jeweler was stunned.