My Mother-In-Law Gave My Nine-Year-Old Daughter A ‘Family Photo’—But Purposely Left The Two Of Us Out To Make It Clear We’re Not Part Of The Family

And this summer, Carol planned something unexpected—a professional family photo shoot at the park.

She picked the theme. Matching outfits. Everyone came.

And at the center of every photo was Emma.

In one, she’s laughing with her arms around both Brian and me. Carol sits beside us, smiling warmly.

That photo now sits on our mantel.

Not the one meant to exclude us, but the one that finally captured what a real family looks like.