When my daughter-in-law gave birth to twins last year, I wanted to be there for her. Every time she called, I showed up—tired or not—because I truly wanted to help. From late-night feedings to laundry piles, I was happy to step in and support her as best I could.

But recently, I came across something online that caught me by surprise. My daughter-in-law had shared a photo of me with the kids, and her caption made me pause. She expressed her own frustrations, and while I know everyone processes stress differently, it still stung to see my efforts painted in a way I didn’t expect.

I took some time to reflect. I realized that sometimes, even when we mean well, others may feel overwhelmed, and words don’t always come out as intended. I decided to sit down with her for an honest conversation. Instead of focusing on the hurt,

I shared how much I cared for her and the children—and also reminded her that I needed appreciation and understanding, too.In the end, we reached a better place. She acknowledged the stress she was under, and I learned to set gentle boundaries for myself. Family isn’t perfect, but with patience and communication, it can grow stronger.