This Thanksgiving was supposed to be a celebration—tight budget or not, my husband Mark and I wanted to make it special for our 8-year-old son, Ethan. But instead of joy, the day brought an unexpected and painful revelation that changed our family in a way we never anticipated.Money has been tighter than usual, but we were determined. We cooked a full Thanksgiving meal—golden turkey, fluffy mashed potatoes, and Ethan’s favorite boxed mac and cheese. I even baked a pumpkin pie from scratch—or close enough. Everything was ready, and we were proud of what we’d pulled off.Ethan usually bounces with excitement during the holidays, but this year, something was different. He barely touched his food and sat silently at the table. When I asked if he was okay, he just mumbled, “I’m not hungry.” I didn’t want to press him, especially with my mother sitting nearby. She’s not always the warmest person, and I hoped maybe he was just tired or overwhelmed.
Later, he skipped dessert. That’s when I knew something was truly wrong—he never skips dessert.After my mom left, still offering unsolicited critiques about our meal, I went to check on Ethan. He was curled up on his bed, quiet and clearly upset.
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