At first, I thought he was just playing. Kids make things up all the time, right?

But then, it kept happening.

“Other Mom says I can have candy before dinner,” Elias said one night, grinning up at me. I laughed, thinking he was trying to trick me. “Nice try, bud,” I said, ruffling his hair.

But he frowned. “No, really. Other Mom lets me.”

I brushed it off, but over the next few days, he kept mentioning her. “Other Mom reads me stories.” “Other Mom sings to me at night.” “Other Mom doesn’t get mad when I spill juice.”

The way he said it—it wasn’t like an imaginary friend. It was matter-of-fact, like he was talking about someone real.

One night, I asked, “Who is Other Mom?”

He then looked at me with a serious expression, something that was completely uncharacteristic for a five-year-old. “She’s the one who takes care of me when you’re not around.”

My stomach tightened. I knew I hadn’t been spending as much time with him lately—I had been swamped with work, and things at home had been feeling a bit chaotic. But another mom?

I laughed it off nervously. “You mean Grandma? Or maybe Aunt Sarah?”

“No, not Grandma. Not Aunt Sarah,” he said, shaking his head. “Other Mom is just like you, but not you. She’s the one who lets me do everything I want.”

The next morning, I couldn’t help myself. I asked him again. “Where does Other Mom live?”

Elias’s face lit up, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world. “She lives in the house with the big garden. The one with the swing in the tree.”

I froze. My heart skipped a beat. There was only one house with a big garden and a tree swing that Elias could be talking about. My ex-husband’s house.

We’d separated almost two years ago. It hadn’t been an easy breakup, but I had assumed Elias had adjusted. I never thought he might be seeing things in his father’s house that would make him call someone “Other Mom.”

That afternoon, I made an excuse to drop by Jack’s house. He had told me he was seeing someone new, but I didn’t know much about her. Our divorce had been one of those “let’s-keep-it-civil-for-the-kids” situations, and I had kept my distance from his personal life.

When I knocked on the door, Jack answered with his usual laid-back smile, but it faltered when he saw the look on my face.

“Hey, what’s going on?” he asked, stepping aside to let me in.

“I need to ask you about something,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Elias has been talking about another mom. He says she reads him stories, gives him candy before dinner, and lets him get away with things I don’t.”

Jack looked confused. “What do you mean, another mom?”

I crossed my arms. “He keeps mentioning her. He even described her house with the tree swing.”

Jack’s face paled. He didn’t answer right away, so I pressed on. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

He let out a long sigh, sitting down on the couch and running a hand through his hair. “Okay… there’s something you need to know.”

I felt a chill run through me, but I waited, trying to remain calm.

“I’ve been seeing someone. Her name’s Marissa. She’s… great with Elias. She’s gentle, she’s kind. And she’s been around for a while now, even before I introduced her to him. I never wanted to keep it from you, but I didn’t want to rush things.”

My heart sank. I had always known Jack had moved on, but hearing the words come out of his mouth… hearing how close Elias had grown to her? That was a blow I hadn’t prepared for.

“But why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I asked, feeling the frustration build. “I had no idea Elias was spending time with her.”

“I didn’t want to make it awkward, you know? I didn’t want you to feel like I was replacing you, or like I was trying to make you feel bad about it,” Jack said, looking genuinely remorseful. “But Elias… he really likes her. She’s been a great influence on him.”

I nodded slowly, processing everything. Jack was trying to be diplomatic, but I could feel my chest tightening with each word.

“I know it’s hard,” Jack added softly. “But he’s happy, and he’s loved. We’re all just trying to do what’s best for him.”

I didn’t know what to say. I had to walk out before I said something I might regret. As I left, Elias waved from the living room window, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing between his parents.

That night, I sat in bed, replaying everything in my head. I thought about Elias’s words—the way he spoke about “Other Mom” as though she was a hero in his eyes, someone who gave him all the things I couldn’t always offer. He wasn’t trying to hurt me; he was just a child trying to make sense of a world where his family had fractured.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want him to have a positive relationship with Jack’s girlfriend. But the idea of her stepping into a role so closely tied to motherhood, to my identity… it hit harder than I expected.

The next day, I decided to take a step I wasn’t sure I was ready for. I called Marissa.

“Hi, this is Claire. Elias’s mom,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Oh! Hi, Claire,” Marissa replied, sounding genuinely warm. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I was wondering if we could talk,” I said. “I’d love to get to know you better. Elias speaks so highly of you, and I think it’s time we had a conversation.”

She agreed to meet up, and a few days later, we sat down at a café, where we had a heart-to-heart conversation. Marissa shared her feelings about Elias, about how she had approached her relationship with Jack, and about her efforts to be there for Elias without overstepping.

What I didn’t expect was how much I appreciated her honesty, her respect for my role in Elias’s life, and her genuine care for him. I realized that, in her own way, she wasn’t trying to replace me. She was just trying to make Elias feel loved in a situation that was tough for everyone involved.

“Do you mind if I spend some time with him in the future?” she asked. “I just want to make sure he feels comfortable with both of us.”

I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. “As long as he’s happy, I’m okay with it.”

And in that moment, I learned something important: It wasn’t about competing with her, or about holding on to the past. It was about making sure Elias had the love and support he needed, no matter where it came from.

It’s easy to feel threatened by change, especially when it involves something as important as your role as a mother. But sometimes, the best thing you can do is open your heart and allow others to help carry the load. Elias has two loving people in his life now, and I’m grateful for that, even when it’s hard.

If this story resonated with you, share it. We could all use a little more understanding and compassion in our relationships.