…I told him, “Now no one will know we came together either.”

He sat in stunned silence for the rest of the ride. At home, he didn’t say much, but later that night, he quietly came into the kitchen while I was washing dishes. “I’m sorry, Mom,” he mumbled, eyes down. “I didn’t mean to be so mean.”

I turned, still holding a plate, and said gently, “Son, I’ve loved you since before you even knew what love was. But respect goes both ways. I’ll always be proud of you—I just hope someday you’ll be proud of us too.”

It wasn’t perfect after that, but things changed. He started walking beside me again—not behind.

Lesson: Kids often test boundaries, but they also learn by example. Sometimes, it takes a taste of their own medicine to open their eyes. Love firmly, teach wisely, and never be ashamed of where you come from