“New mom is mean when you’re not here,” my five-year-old Sophie confessed after my business trip. Her words sent chills down my spine. Amelia had been nothing but kind since we married – so why was she locking herself in the attic and suddenly denying Sophie ice cream? That night, I discovered the shocking truth: not a monster, but a woman trying desperately to measure up to a ghost.
The attic wasn’t a prison – it was a labor of love Amelia had been secretly preparing as a surprise playroom. In her quest to create something perfect for Sophie, she’d accidentally recreated her own mother’s harsh parenting style. The moment Sophie saw the fairy-lit wonderland and Amelia promised shared ice cream sessions, their real bond began. Sometimes the things that scare us most are just love in disguise.
