Every Sunday at 5 p.m., my stepson Josh would come home from his mom’s place, and it was like clockwork—he’d step through the door, kick off his shoes, and retreat to his room without a word. His cheerful demeanor from earlier in the week would vanish, replaced by a brooding silence. No matter what we tried—home-cooked meals, games, movie nights—nothing seemed to lift his mood.

One evening, I asked my husband Patrick if he thought Josh was okay. “Honestly, I think he’s fine,” Patrick replied. “Linda probably just gives him a hard time about school. She does like to push him.” I agreed that Linda’s expectations might be tough, but Josh’s mood had changed drastically, and Patrick’s casual dismissal didn’t sit right with me. I wanted to understand what was bothering Josh but was unsure how to approach him without intruding.

Things seemed to escalate. Josh, once vibrant and talkative, had become distant and withdrawn. Even Patrick’s attempts to engage him didn’t yield much. During one of these attempts, Josh only offered a vague response about his mom being “her usual self,” but he seemed too pained to discuss it further.

A woman and a boy talking on a porch | Source: AmoMama

Last weekend, while Patrick was out, I sat waiting for Josh to come home. Our new security system, which Patrick had installed after some neighborhood thefts, provided a live feed of our porch. I was sipping tea when the feed switched to the front door, capturing Josh and Linda talking.

Linda handed Josh a container of cookies and said, “I’ll see you next week. And you know what you have to do…”

Josh’s face fell. “Mom, I don’t want to,” he said, his voice trembling.

I leaned closer to the screen, my heart sinking. “You have to tell them the truth, Mom!” Josh’s voice cracked. “I hate lying to Dad, and they know something’s up. If Dad knew you’re making me steal from his house every week, he’d be furious!”

The word “stealing” hit me like a punch. I was stunned as Josh continued, “And Liv is noticing her things disappearing. I can’t keep doing this.”

Linda’s response was cold. “They have plenty of money. I need some of Olivia’s jewelry next time. And try to get some cash from Dad’s sock drawer for emergencies.”

I was overwhelmed with emotion, feeling a mix of anger and heartbreak for Josh. He was carrying a heavy burden, one that was tearing him apart.

I couldn’t just stand by. I went straight to the door. “Linda, hello,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Hi, Liv,” Josh said, reaching out to hug me. Linda gave me a curt nod. “I heard everything,” I said firmly. “What’s going on, Linda? If you don’t explain, I’ll call Patrick right now. Josh, go to your room, please.”

Linda hesitated but then confessed her dire financial situation—debt, overdue rent, and desperation. I told her, “I’ll give you the money to help you get back on your feet, but Josh will stay here until you sort things out. You won’t ask him for anything else. Understand?”

Linda begrudgingly agreed, realizing the gravity of the situation. “Thank you,” she said, her tone subdued. “I’ll send a breakdown of what I need.”

As Linda left, Josh hugged me tightly. “Thank you,” he said through tears. “I didn’t want to steal. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s going to be okay,” I reassured him. “We’ll sort this out and make things right for everyone. I promise.”

I felt a mix of relief and sadness. The situation wasn’t ideal, but I hoped that by addressing the issue directly, we could start to heal and restore some normalcy to Josh’s life.