My Mother-In-Law Said She Would Kick Me Out Of The House If I Didn’t Give Birth To A Boy

Derek never flinched.

Then I got pregnant again. Patricia started calling this baby “the heir” at six weeks. She sent Derek links for boy nursery themes and “how to conceive a son,” as if it were a performance review.

Then she’d look at me and say: “If you can’t give Derek what he needs, maybe you should move aside for a woman who can.”

At dinner Derek would joke: “Fourth time’s the charm. Don’t screw this one up.”

I said, “They’re our kids, not a science experiment.”