10/21/2025
My ex-husband's new wife told my sons to call her MOM.
_________________
On Tuesday night, I was tucking my older son, Noah, into bed. He's five. My younger son, Eli, is three and was already half-asleep.
Noah suddenly asked, "Mom, do I have TWO moms now?"
I froze. "What do you mean, sweetheart?"
"Daddy's new wife said we should call her 'Mom.' She said she's my REAL mom too."
I don't think I've ever felt my heart break so loudly.
Noah fell asleep, but I lay awake for hours staring at the ceiling, that awful sentence echoing in my head.
My ex-husband, Mark, and I divorced two years ago. He met Lori six months after the separation.
Since we first met during a custody exchange, she's been trying to rewrite history. She posts pictures on social media captioned, "My beautiful sons."
I'd tried to ignore it. But telling my children I wasn't their only mom? That crossed a line.
I called Mark immediately that night.
He answered, "You're overreacting, Jess. She just wants to bond with them. DON'T TURN THIS INTO A BIG DRAMA. Can't you just be… mature about it?"
I hung up before I said something I'd regret.
But as I sat there, watching my sons sleep, something hardened inside me.
If Lori wanted to be "Mom," then I'd let her, but with a LITTLE TRICK.
So, Saturday morning was Mark's custody day. I loaded the boys into the car.
When we pulled up to their townhouse, Lori opened the door in full makeup and a pink tracksuit.
"Hi, sweethearts! Mommy's so happy to see you," she squealed.
I clenched my jaw. ⬇️