My husband stood up for our family after his mother publicly humiliated me during Sunday dinner, and the words he chose in that moment —

I never thought age would matter. My husband is seven years younger than me, and we’ve always been happy. But to his mother, our age difference has always been a problem.

From the start, she made it clear she disapproved. When I became pregnant, she didn’t congratulate us — she muttered that I had “trapped him.”

Eight years later, we’re still married, our son is thriving, and she still hasn’t softened.

Last week, she invited us to her 60th birthday party. I didn’t want to go, but my husband insisted. “Maybe this is the moment she finally sees you the way I do,” he said.

So I went. I dressed nicely. Our son brought her flowers. I walked in hopeful.

At first, everything seemed fine. Then she stood up to toast herself, looked at me and my son, and said loudly:

“And here is my daughter-in-law — and her lottery ticket.”

The room went silent.

My face burned. My heart sank. My husband’s hand tightened in mine.

And then he stood up.