My five-year-old came home in tears. “My teacher said, ’I bet your mom wishes she never had you!’”
Furious, I stormed into the school, ready to confront her. But she calmly asked, “Have you checked your daughter’s bag?”

That night, I did—and froze at what I found. There it was. With trembling hands, I pulled out a crumpled notebook from my daughter’s bag. My heart sank as I read her scribbled words: “I hate my mom and dad. They’re so mean!”Guilt and confusion washed over me.