It was the kind of place that boasted private memberships for the well-to-do families who could afford it year-round but also offered guest passes for people like me.

The price wasn’t cheap, but the promise of a pristine beach, a sparkling pool, and endless activities for kids made it worth it. Jack deserved it. As a single mom, I didn’t get many chances to spoil him, and I was determined to make this vacation special.

“Let’s check in and unpack first,” I laughed, walking into the lobby of the hotel area. “But don’t worry, buddy. We’ll have plenty of time to explore everything.”

We reached the receptionist’s desk, and I was smiling like a mad woman. It was such a happy moment that I barely noticed the two ladies standing with their expensive bags and getting help from another attendant.

But I should’ve noted how they wrinkled their noses in my direction. It would’ve saved me a lot of trouble… and heartache.

My boy clutched his new beach ball and immediately spotted a group of kids playing catch in the water.

“Mom, can I go play with them?” he asked eagerly.

“Of course,” I said, smiling as he trotted over.

I watched as he approached the children with his usual confidence. “Hi! Can I play too?”

The kids stopped and stared at him, then glanced at each other. A few whispered, and then, without a word, they turned and swam away.

I frowned as Jack returned to me.

“Mom,” he said. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No, sweetheart,” I assured him, though I was confused too. “Sometimes kids are just shy. Don’t let it bother you, okay? Maybe try again later.”

He nodded, but I saw that his initial excitement had dwindled.

“Mommy,” he asked that night back in our hotel room, “why don’t they want to play with me? Did I make them mad?”

“You didn’t make anyone mad,” I said, pulling him close. “You’re a wonderful kid, Jack. If they don’t want to play with you, that’s their loss.”

But inside, my heart was breaking.

By the third day, I couldn’t take it anymore. Watching Jack’s confidence crumble with each rejection felt unbearable. I could play with him, of course, but I also wanted him to be able to play with kids his age.

“Hi there,” I said, crouching slightly to look less intimidating. “Can I ask you something? Why don’t you want to play with my son? He’s a really nice boy.”

The kids froze and exchanged nervous glances. Finally, one of them who seemed older than the rest, stepped forward shyly.

“Um… it’s not him,” he said, shuffling his feet. “It’s you.”

“Me?” I asked, stunned.

I felt a pit in my stomach. “Why would they say that?”

He hesitated, then blurted, “Because you were on some TV show, a reality show, where people fight and act dramatic. Mom said you thought you were better than everyone else and didn’t follow the rules. And… that you were mean to everyone.”

I sighed. It was so hard to believe that part of my past was still coming to haunt me.

“Thank you for telling me,” I said, nodding to the boy. Then, I looked to the left and saw a group of women, looking toward us as they lounged by the pool.

They must also feel entitled to control the social life of this place. They certainly had an eye on who their kids played with.

But what’s more, I recognized the way they stared at me. I’d seen it many times before from others who thought they knew me because of a show. So, after saying bye to the kids with a real smile (as this wasn’t their fault), I rose and marched straight to their moms.

“Excuse me,” I said, my voice sharp enough to interrupt their chatter and make them look up from their cocktails.

“Hi,” said one of them, squinting her eyes. She flashed a fake, tight smile, her nose pinched like she was above talking to me.

For some reason, I knew she was the ringleader of this group.

“Hi,” I responded flatly. “I just spoke to the kids. I know what you’ve been gossiping about me, and I need to make one thing clear: you don’t get to punish my son for whatever you think I did years ago.”

“Oh, don’t play dumb,” I snapped. “Your kids told me everything. You’ve been telling them not to play with my son because of some ridiculous gossip about a TV show I was on. A show, by the way, that I left because I refused to participate in the drama and fake storylines the producers were pushing.”

Another mom shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “Well, it wasn’t just gossip…”

“Yes, it was,” I said, cutting her off. “I stood up for myself and walked away, and if that makes me ‘a diva’ or ‘mean’ in your eyes, so be it.”

The ringleader crossed her arms. “Look, we were just trying to look out for our kids. You wouldn’t understand—”

“Oh, I understand perfectly,” I said, my voice rising. “You’re teaching your kids to judge others based on lies or what some show told you to believe. What kind of example is that? At least there’s hope for them because they told me the truth. Now, I can’t push them to play with my kid, but stop lying to them.”

None of the women responded to that, and they all took pains to avoid my eyes.

“Have a good day!” I snapped and stormed off.

She hesitated a few feet away from me, as if stalling, and watched Jack run to the sea. But her steps continued after a second.

“Hi,” she said softly.

I looked up, bored. “What do you want?” I asked, not bothering to hide the edge in my voice.

“I… I wanted to say I’m sorry,” she said, rushing her words. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have judged you or your son. I also shouldn’t have said a thing to my kids. It wasn’t fair.”

She shook her head and raised her hand. “No, no, no! Actually, they all feel the same way. They’re just… embarrassed. So, I came forward to apologize. We already told the children that we were wrong.”

I breathed a sigh. “Alright. I appreciate that.”

She smiled brightly, and now that I wasn’t so angry, I thought she looked beautiful, like a classic Hollywood actress.

A second later, I spotted the Queen Bee walking toward us with two other moms in tow. They apologized as well, and their words felt genuine.

Speaking of Jack… I turned to look for him by the sea and smiled as my heart swelled. The kids had already gathered around him, and suddenly, they broke into a game of tag.

When I turned back to look at the moms, they were also smiling at the children.

A moment later, the classic Hollywood actress linked her arm with mine. “I’m Julie. Do you want to have a drink with us?” she asked eagerly.

And with that, the rest of the vacation was exactly what I envisioned. I had fun with my boy by the pool and by the beach. I even socialized a lot with the moms, although cautiously.

Jack had the fun I hoped he would, and that was more than enough to make me forget about the initial hiccup.

What’s more, this trip reminded me more than ever that adults set the example. If we admit our mistakes, apologize, and do better, our kids will notice. They’ll follow suit.

I’m not perfect, but I try to be the best version of myself, so my son strives for the same.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.