My ex expected me to make a scene after telling our son to call his girlfriend \u201csecond Mom.\u201d Instead, his mother gave me a reason to stay quiet \u2013 and soon I had a much better way to answer him.<\/p>\n
I spent weeks perfectly planning my son Leo’s eighth birthday party.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, is Dad coming?\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo caught me beside the cake.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said he would.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s late.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo caught me beside the cake.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow late?\u201d<\/p>\n
I checked my phone. \u201cTwo hours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo frowned. \u201cMaybe he forgot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn’t forget.\u201d<\/p>\n
He’s late.<\/p>\n
The backyard was packed with Leo’s friends, their parents, and our family, including my ex-mother-in-law, Eleanor.<\/p>\n
Then the gate opened.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad!\u201d Leo ran toward him. \u201cYou’re late.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg walked in holding hands with a twenty-year-old woman.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n
You’re late.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho’s she?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg smiled. \u201cSomeone you’re going to be seeing a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
I kept slicing the cake.<\/p>\n
Not today. I wasn’t giving him a fight today.<\/p>\n
But Greg has always thrived on cruel, unnecessary drama.<\/p>\n
Someone you’re going to be seeing a lot.<\/p>\n
He pulled Leo from his friends and stopped where everyone could hear.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeo, buddy, stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo frowned. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg wrapped an arm around his girlfriend’s waist. \u201cYou know Madison.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
I wasn’t giving him a fight today.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, you’re going to be spending weekends at our new apartment now.\u201d<\/p>\n
A woman beside the gift table stared at him. \u201cSeriously, Greg?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg smiled. \u201cSo I think it’s time you started treating Madison like family.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
God. Here we go again.<\/p>\n
Seriously, Greg?<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d Leo asked.<\/p>\n
Greg gave a little laugh. \u201cIt means you can start calling her your second Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Someone behind me muttered, \u201cOh my God.\u201d<\/p>\n
The entire patio went quiet.<\/p>\n
I gripped the cake knife harder.<\/p>\n
Here we go again.<\/p>\n
Of course he’d done it in front of everyone. Greg never wanted a conversation when he could have an audience.<\/p>\n
Leo looked at me, his eyes already filling. \u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg crossed his arms. \u201cWell, Claire?\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing to say?\u201d<\/p>\n
There it was.<\/p>\n
Of course he’d done it in front of everyone.<\/p>\n
He wanted the argument.<\/p>\n
The emotional ex-wife. The scene he could blame on me.<\/p>\n
I opened my mouth \u2013<\/p>\n
but Eleanor stepped in front of me and took Leo’s hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don’t have to call anyone Mom except your mother,\u201d she said clearly.<\/p>\n
He wanted the argument.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom,\u201d Greg snapped.<\/p>\n
Eleanor ignored him. \u201cCome on, sweetheart. Show Grandma your presents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then she turned to me, but raised her voice enough for the patio to hear.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire, ask yourself why Greg suddenly needs everyone to see him being such a devoted father.\u201d<\/p>\n
A few guests glanced at Greg.<\/p>\n
His smile disappeared.<\/p>\n
You don’t have to call anyone Mom.<\/p>\n
Then she walked away with Leo.<\/p>\n
That sentence bothered me far more than Greg’s little performance did.<\/p>\n
Greg and I had been divorced for almost a year.<\/p>\n
Our marriage hadn’t ended dramatically. At least, not at first.<\/p>\n
It died slowly.<\/p>\n
That sentence bothered me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking late again?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s my job, Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou came home at two last night.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI went for drinks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThree times this week?\u201d<\/p>\n
It died slowly.<\/p>\n
He’d roll his eyes. \u201cAre we really doing this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Then a friend saw him kissing another woman.<\/p>\n
When I got nervous, I always talked too much \u2013 and confronting him was no different.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho was she? How long has this been going on? How many times have you lied to me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg sighed. \u201cClaire, you’re doing that thing again.\u201d<\/p>\n
You came home at two last night.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat thing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTalking and talking because you’re emotional.\u201d<\/p>\n
He used that habit to dodge the real conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you’re cheating.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don’t know that.\u201d<\/p>\n
I checked his messages.<\/p>\n
Claire, you’re doing that thing again.<\/p>\n
There hadn’t been one woman.<\/p>\n
There had been several.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many were there? How long had this been going on? Were you ever going to tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg threw up his hands. \u201cSee? You’re doing it again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoing what?\u201d<\/p>\n
He used that habit to dodge the real conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis. Question after question. You never stop.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
For once, I didn’t ask another question. I was tired of explaining, arguing, and begging for answers from a man who’d rather criticize how I spoke than answer me.<\/p>\n
So I stopped trying.<\/p>\n
I filed for divorce.<\/p>\n
See? You’re doing it again.<\/p>\n
Leo stayed primarily with me, and Greg got weekends. Even those weren’t sacred.<\/p>\n
One Sunday, he asked yet again, \u201cCan you pick him up early?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAgain?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething came up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
I filed for divorce.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes it matter?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreg, it’s your weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I’m asking you to take him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then, about a month before Leo’s birthday, the calls changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I get Leo Wednesday?\u201d<\/p>\n
Can you pick him up early?<\/p>\n
\u201cAgain?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I’m surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m his father, Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n
The calls changed.<\/p>\n
A week later, Leo climbed into my car after soccer. \u201cDad came again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe took pictures the whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid that bother you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo shrugged. \u201cHe never used to.\u201d<\/p>\n
I’m his father, Claire.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat he was proud of me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stared out the window. \u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n
He took pictures the whole time.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy does Dad suddenly want to do everything?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe he’s trying harder.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo nodded.<\/p>\n
But I wasn’t sure anymore.<\/p>\n
He was proud of me.<\/p>\n
He started attending soccer games.
\nAsking for extra weekends.
\nTaking Leo out after school.
\nI actually felt relieved.<\/p>\n
Maybe divorce had finally made him grow up.<\/p>\n
But back to Leo’s birthday.<\/p>\n
I wasn’t sure anymore.<\/p>\n
After the party, I found Eleanor stacking paper plates in my kitchen. \u201cWhat did you mean earlier?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout Greg?\u201d She shrugged. \u201cNothing. I was putting him in his place.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. You meant something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor looked at me. \u201cClaire, Greg and I have our own history. I’m not getting in the middle of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why warn me?\u201d<\/p>\n
I was putting him in his place.<\/p>\n
She picked up her purse. \u201cJust don’t confuse attention with devotion.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means exactly what I said.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEleanor\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know Greg too. Think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn’t push. Eleanor and I had never been close \u2013 she’d only ever been civil to me for Leo’s sake, so I knew she wouldn’t tell me more.<\/p>\n
Don’t confuse attention with devotion.<\/p>\n
So with that, she left.<\/p>\n
But her answer stuck with me, and I started wondering what Greg really wanted.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
That night, after Leo fell asleep, I opened Greg’s social media.<\/p>\n
I’d unfollowed him after the divorce.<\/p>\n
I smiled to myself. \u201cGood thing his profile was public.\u201d<\/p>\n
I started wondering what Greg really wanted.<\/p>\n
And apparently my ex-husband had become Father of the Century.<\/p>\n
I scrolled.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is he trying to impress?\u201d<\/p>\n
A photo of Greg and Leo at soccer.<\/p>\n
Caption: Saturday mornings with my favorite guy.<\/p>\n
My ex-husband had become Father of the Century.<\/p>\n
Pancakes.<\/p>\n
Caption: Building something beautiful together.<\/p>\n
Greg, Madison, and Leo at the park.<\/p>\n
Caption: Nothing comes before family.<\/p>\n
Caption: Being his dad is my greatest job.<\/p>\n
Every extra visit had become content.<\/p>\n
Saturday mornings with my favorite guy.<\/p>\n
Then one comment caught my eye.<\/p>\n
Martin: Looking like leadership material, Greg. Keep it up.<\/p>\n
Leadership?<\/p>\n
So this wasn’t just about Madison.<\/p>\n
Something was happening at work.<\/p>\n
Every extra visit had become content.<\/p>\n
I called Tessa, a friend I’d met through Greg’s company. We hadn’t talked in a while, mostly because life kept getting in the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire! God, it’s been forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know. Sorry. Things have been crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSame here. What’s up?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a weird question.\u201d<\/p>\n
Something was happening at work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds promising.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs something going on with Greg at work?\u201d<\/p>\n
She laughed. \u201cWhat isn’t?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur senior director is leaving. Greg wants the job.\u201d<\/p>\n
What isn’t?<\/p>\n
\u201cSeriously?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVery. He’s been campaigning like his life depends on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCampaigning how?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTrying to look like the perfect candidate. Responsible, mature, leadership material. You know Greg.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, I did.<\/p>\n
Greg wants the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen do they decide?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the annual gala.\u201d<\/p>\n
I remembered that gala. I’d attended it with Greg every year.<\/p>\n
Suddenly Greg’s transformation didn’t feel like a transformation at all.<\/p>\n
It felt like a campaign.<\/p>\n
So I was on the right track. And maybe I’d just found my chance for revenge.<\/p>\n
He’s been campaigning.<\/p>\n
I needed to be at that gala.<\/p>\n
And I knew exactly how to get there.<\/p>\n
Greg had already told me he was taking Leo Saturday night.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
That afternoon, I found Leo getting dressed. \u201cNervous?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA little. Dad said there’ll be lots of people.\u201d<\/p>\n
I’d just found my chance for revenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you feel better if I came?\u201d<\/p>\n
His face brightened. \u201cYou can?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf your dad invites me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWill you ask him?\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled. \u201cI think you should.\u201d<\/p>\n
Would you feel better if I came?<\/p>\n
When Greg arrived, Leo ran to him. \u201cDad, can Mom come with us?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t know anybody there. Please?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg looked at me. \u201cSeriously?\u201d<\/p>\n
I shrugged. \u201cHe asked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Can Mom come with us?<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
His jaw tightened. \u201cFine. You can come.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Leo wants me there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I need tonight to go smoothly.\u201d<\/p>\n
There it was.<\/p>\n
You can come.<\/p>\n
I smiled. \u201cThen let’s make sure it does.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg thought he’d solved his problem.<\/p>\n
He’d actually just invited me straight into it.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
At the gala, Greg became someone else.<\/p>\n
His hand stayed on Leo’s shoulder as he introduced him to executives. \u201cThis is my little man.\u201d<\/p>\n
He’d actually just invited me straight into it.<\/p>\n
One executive smiled. \u201cI’ve been hearing a lot about you, Leo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo glanced at him. \u201cYou have?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg laughed. \u201cOf course. My son basically lives with me these days.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tell him. Tell everyone.<\/p>\n
Then Greg’s old voice surfaced in my head.<\/p>\n
\u2018See? You’re doing it again.\u2019<\/p>\n
Greg became someone else.<\/p>\n
So I stayed quiet. But this time, it was my choice.<\/p>\n
Enjoy it, Greg. You won’t be shutting me up much longer.<\/p>\n
I smiled. \u201cInteresting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg glanced at me. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing. Keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n
He did.<\/p>\n
You won’t be shutting me up much longer.<\/p>\n
Greg moved on to Madison. \u201cAnd this is Madison. She’s been incredible with Leo. We’re building a real family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo looked at him. \u201cWhy are you telling everyone about us?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m proud of you, buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n
My ex hadn’t been rebuilding a relationship.<\/p>\n
He’d been building a r\u00e9sum\u00e9.<\/p>\n
We’re building a real family.<\/p>\n
Madison squeezed his arm. \u201cWe’re trying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTrying?\u201d Leo asked.<\/p>\n
Greg laughed too loudly. \u201cKids.\u201d<\/p>\n
A woman beside us smiled awkwardly. \u201cThey do have a way of keeping us honest.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nearly laughed.<\/p>\n
You have no idea.<\/p>\n
He’d been building a r\u00e9sum\u00e9.<\/p>\n
Later, one of Greg’s bosses, Martin, approached me. \u201cClaire! I wasn’t expecting to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNeither was I.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled at Leo. \u201cYour dad tells us you two are practically inseparable now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo frowned.<\/p>\n
Greg interrupted. \u201cWe’ve really made co-parenting work.\u201d<\/p>\n
You have no idea.<\/p>\n
Martin looked at me. \u201cSo you two have fifty-fifty custody now?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg answered before I could. \u201cPretty much.\u201d<\/p>\n
There it was.<\/p>\n
Normally, nerves would’ve made me talk for five straight minutes.<\/p>\n
Instead, I looked directly at Greg.<\/p>\n
This time, I’d ask one question and let him do the rest.<\/p>\n
We’ve really made co-parenting work.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh. Did we change the schedule?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg’s smile twitched. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe custody schedule. Did we change it?\u201d<\/p>\n
He laughed. \u201cClaire, obviously I don’t mean literally\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight. I was confused because those four extra weekends this month were the first you’d asked for in almost a year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martin’s smile disappeared.<\/p>\n
I’d ask one question and let him do the rest.<\/p>\n
Someone nearby coughed into his drink.<\/p>\n
Greg’s face reddened. \u201cCan we not do this here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI only asked a question.\u201d<\/p>\n
And I’d finally learned something Greg never had.<\/p>\n
Sometimes one question was enough.<\/p>\n
Martin’s smile disappeared.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s complicated,\u201d he told Martin. \u201cYou know how divorce is. I’ve been trying to get more time for ages.\u201d<\/p>\n
I could’ve stopped there.<\/p>\n
Instead, I gave him just enough rope. \u201cFor ages?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cInteresting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sometimes one question was enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy do you keep saying that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I don’t remember it that way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? I’m listening.\u201d<\/p>\n
A man beside Martin suddenly became very interested in his champagne.<\/p>\n
I don’t remember it that way.<\/p>\n
Greg kept going. \u201cClaire has always been protective about the schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProtective?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cRestrictive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Madison turned toward him. \u201cWait.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg froze.<\/p>\n
What? I’m listening.<\/p>\n
She stared at me. \u201cYou were stopping him from seeing Leo, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreg said he’s been fighting for more time with Leo for years.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her. \u201cHe told you that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire,\u201d Greg warned.<\/p>\n
You were stopping him from seeing Leo, right?<\/p>\n
I smiled at him.<\/p>\n
I’d barely started, and he was already doing the rest for me.<\/p>\n
Madison stepped away from him. \u201cYou said she kept canceling your weekends.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI never canceled his weekends.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s not what you told me,\u201d she said to Greg.<\/p>\n
The room had gone quiet, and my ex’s boss was listening more closely now.<\/p>\n
He was already doing the rest for me.<\/p>\n
Greg lowered his voice. \u201cMadison, we’ll discuss this later.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. You told me you barely saw your son because she wouldn’t let you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s basically what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
I raised an eyebrow. \u201cBasically?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon’t.\u201d<\/p>\n
My ex’s boss was listening more closely now.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m just trying to understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
A woman behind Martin whispered, \u201cThis is better than the speeches.\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast February you canceled a concert,\u201d I said. \u201cIn May, you had me pick Leo up after three hours because you had plans.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg’s jaw tightened. \u201cClaire. Stop.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is better than the speeches.<\/p>\n
There it was again.<\/p>\n
Only this time, I didn’t have to.<\/p>\n
Madison stared at him. \u201cThen why did you tell me you were fighting for custody?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg went still. \u201cI didn’t say custody.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou absolutely did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire. Stop.<\/p>\n
Martin quietly excused himself.<\/p>\n
That seemed to scare Greg more than anything. \u201cMartin, wait. This is just a personal drama.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martin turned back. \u201cYou made your family situation part of the conversation about your candidacy, Greg.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI never\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’ve discussed it repeatedly.\u201d<\/p>\n
That seemed to scare Greg more than anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was explaining how I’ve grown.\u201d<\/p>\n
Madison gave a humorless laugh. \u201cBy lying to everybody?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody lied!\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo appeared beside me. \u201cMom, can we go home?\u201d<\/p>\n
I took his hand. \u201cAbsolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n
I was explaining how I’ve grown.<\/p>\n
Greg stepped toward us. \u201cClaire, look what you’ve done.\u201d<\/p>\n
There were a thousand things I could’ve said.<\/p>\n
A year earlier, I would’ve said every one of them.<\/p>\n
Instead, I looked around at the faces Greg had spent months trying to impress.<\/p>\n
Then I looked back at him. \u201cI asked a few questions, Greg.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew exactly what you were doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Look what you’ve done.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d I shrugged. \u201cBut you gave all the answers.\u201d<\/p>\n
And that was the best part.<\/p>\n
I’d only opened the door.<\/p>\n
Greg had walked through it, dug the hole, and climbed inside all by himself.<\/p>\n
I squeezed Leo’s hand. \u201cCome on, sweetheart.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then we left.<\/p>\n
I asked a few questions, Greg.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
In the car, he was quiet. \u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Dad only bring me because of his job?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever your dad wanted tonight, none of it was your fault.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I didn’t do anything wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot one thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
I’d only opened the door.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Two weeks later, Tessa called. \u201cGreg didn’t get the promotion.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of the gala?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he’d made his whole \u2018better father, better leader\u2019 act part of his pitch. Once they realized he’d lied, they stopped trusting him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Madison?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg didn’t get the promotion.<\/p>\n
For years, he had taught me to question my own voice.<\/p>\n
But silence wasn’t something he could force on me anymore. I could speak when I chose \u2013 and stay quiet when it served me.<\/p>\n
That night, I hadn’t needed to outtalk him or prove anything.<\/p>\n
I asked one question.<\/p>\n
Greg did the rest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My ex expected me to make a scene after telling our son to call his girlfriend \u201csecond Mom.\u201d Instead, his mother gave me a reason<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trending-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebspaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebspaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebspaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebspaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebspaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6983"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebspaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6983\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6985,"href":"https:\/\/celebspaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6983\/revisions\/6985"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebspaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebspaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebspaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebspaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}