When Amber, a hardworking mom and corporate attorney, discovers a drawing by her 7-year-old daughter, Mia, her world is shaken. The picture shows Mia’s teacher in Amber’s place with a heartbreaking caption. Suspecting betrayal, Amber confronts her husband, Jack, only to uncover something deeper… Mia’s feelings of abandonment amidst Amber’s busy life.
I didn’t think I’d be here… but this has been life lately.
A woman looking out the window | Source: Midjourney
I’m Livia, I’m thirty-four, married to my husband Jack for ten years, and I’m a mom to my bundle of joy, Mia, a seven-year-old little girl. Recently, I’ve been busier than I’ve ever been in my entire life, which is truly saying something because I’m a corporate attorney.
My mom’s health has been declining over the past year, and we’ve been throwing ourselves into her hospital stays, therapy sessions, and medication that costs way more than I care to admit.
To cover everything, I’ve been working insane hours because I’d do anything for my mother.
A woman sitting in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney
Anything.
Jack has been the best partner and rock I could have ever asked for. He has stepped up at home in ways I never imagined or expected. Jack has taken on the cooking, cleaning, helping Mia with her schoolwork, and managing all the little things I used to handle.
He made it possible for me to keep everything afloat, even when it felt like I was drowning.
A father and daughter duo sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
But last night, everything changed before I could even catch my breath.
I came home late, exhausted, starving, and ready to collapse. After hurriedly eating a bowl of salmon and rice while Mia took her bath, I put my little girl to bed. As she dozed off, Mia mumbled something about puppets.
“I didn’t know that you could put your hand in a socket and it would be a puppet,” she said.
A green sock puppet | Source: Midjourney
“A sock, my darling,” I said. “Not a socket! Don’t you ever put your hand in a socket, Mia.”
She giggled.
“Okay, Momma,” she said, yawning.
A yawning little girl | Source: Midjourney
I started tidying up her dolls, which were scattered all over the carpet in her room, and then made my way to the coffee table in the living room. Crayons, white paper, and coloring books were scattered all over.
That’s when I found it. A drawing.
At first glance, it seemed innocent enough. A kid’s sketch of a happy family. A man, a woman, and a little girl holding hands. But when I looked closer, my stomach twisted.
A woman gathering crayons | Source: Midjourney
The man was unmistakably Jack. The little girl was clearly Mia. But the woman? Definitely not me.
She had long brown hair and wore a flowing bridal gown. Beneath the drawing, in Mia’s little handwriting, were the words that broke my heart:
I can’t wait for you to be my mom!
It felt like the ground beneath me had given way.
A child’s drawing | Source: Midjourney
I took the picture to Mia’s bed and sat on the edge, trying to wake her up enough to get answers.
“Darling girl, can you tell me about this drawing?” I asked her calmly.
“What drawing, Momma?” she asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
When Mia took a look at the drawing, her face turned red, and she snatched the paper out of my hand, clutching it to her chest.
An upset little girl | Source: Midjourney
“You weren’t supposed to find that! Daddy said to hide it better!” she blurted out.
Hide it better? Jack? Hide what better?
My heart started pounding. What was going on? Was Jack cheating? And what was worse… was Mia already imagining this other woman as her mom?
An upset woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
I barely slept that night. My mind was running miles per hour. I thought about my mother, I thought about the work I still needed to do before heading to the office the next day, and I thought about my marriage…
By the morning, I had gone through a storm of worst-case scenarios. I sat in the kitchen, waiting for Jack to get ready for work. Mia had already left for school.
“What is this?” I demanded, thrusting the drawing into his hands.
An upset woman standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
His eyes widened, and his face turned pale.
“You told her to hide it?” I asked. “You actually told Mia to hide it?”
“Wait, wait,” he stammered, holding up his hands defensively. “It’s not what you think, Amber. Let me explain it all to you.”
A worried man standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“You have exactly five seconds, Jack. I’ve been going crazy the entire night.”
My husband ran a hand through his hair, clearly distressed.
“Come with me,” he said.
“What? Where are we going? What about work?” I asked.
A man standing in a kitchen with his head bowed down | Source: Midjourney
“We’re going to Mia’s school. I need to show you something,” he said.
I wanted to scream at him, but something in his voice, an urgency that didn’t feel like guilt, made me agree.
The drive to the school was tense and silent, my mind still racing. What would Jack show me at Mia’s school that would change anything? Was there an imaginary friend or imaginary step-in mother waiting for us?
An upset woman sitting in a car | Source: Midjourney
When we arrived at the school, Jack squeezed my knee. As we walked to the reception area, he squeezed my hand and asked to see Mia’s teacher, Clara.
As soon as Clara walked in, I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. She was stunning, and for the life of me, I couldn’t remember why I hadn’t met her before. She had long brown hair, a bright smile, and an effortlessly bubbly demeanor.
She had to be the woman from Mia’s drawing, it was unmistakable.
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
She smiled at Jack, and I wanted to scream.
“Clara,” Jack said. “Can you explain to my wife what’s been happening with Mia?”
Clara’s expression shifted to confusion but then softened as she glanced at me.
“Oh, of course,” she said.
A stressed woman | Source: Midjourney
She gestured for us to sit in the little room adjacent to the reception.
“Look, Mia’s been having a tough time lately,” she began. “She’s mentioned feeling like her mom doesn’t have time for her anymore. I’ve tried to reassure her, but she’s… well, look, she’s seven. And she’s been drawing a lot of pictures to process her feelings.”
Clara handed me a stack of drawings, and my heart sank as I flipped through them.
A stack of children’s drawings and coloring books | Source: Midjourney
Most were variations of the same theme. A happy family with Clara in my place. On the back of one of the drawings, there were more words I hadn’t noticed the first time:
Daddy and Clara.
“So, you’ve been spending time with my daughter?” I asked, unable to hide the edge in my voice.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
“Yes, of course,” she said. “But only in class, and I’m her teacher, after all. She stays after class sometimes to help me tidy up. She told me she feels like she’s losing her mom because you’re always busy. I’m so sorry if I overstepped. I’d never want to interfere…”
I turned to Jack, my chest tight.
“And you? What did you say to her about this?”
A stressed man | Source: Midjourney
Jack looked miserable.
“I found that picture last week,” he admitted. “I told Mia it wasn’t true, that you love her more than anything. But I didn’t know how to handle it. I didn’t want to make it worse by bringing it up when you were already so stressed out. I told her to put the drawing away because I knew it would hurt you.”
“You should have told me, Jack,” I said softly.
A woman holding her head | Source: Midjourney
I honestly didn’t know what to think.
Jack nodded, guilt in his eyes.
“I know, love,” he said. “I thought I was protecting you, but I see now that I just made it worse.”
An upset man | Source: Midjourney
My anger began to deflate, replaced by a wave of guilt so heavy it nearly knocked me off my seat. This wasn’t about Jack cheating or Clara overstepping. It was about my daughter, her sadness, her confusion, and her way of coping with my absence.
That night, I sat down with Mia at the kitchen table. I had dished us bowls of ice cream with all the toppings, hoping for a bonding moment between us.
Bowls of ice cream | Source: Midjourney
“Sweetheart,” I said softly. “I need to tell you something. I know I haven’t been around as much lately, and I’m so, so sorry. Grandma needs a lot of help right now, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with you. You’re my everything, sweet girl.”
Mia’s eyes filled with tears, and she threw her arms around me.
“I thought maybe you didn’t like me anymore,” she whispered.
A little girl sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney
My heart shattered.
“I love you more than anything,” I said, holding her tightly. “Nothing will ever change that.”
In the weeks that followed, I made several lifestyle changes.
I cut back on work hours and asked my siblings to take on more of our mom’s care. Jack and I started a “Mom and Mia” night every week, just the two of us, doing whatever she wanted.
A little girl decorating cookies | Source: Midjourney
Sometimes it was baking cookies, other times it was a movie night, or building a fort, or sometimes it was just us dressing up and going on a date together.
I also had a heartfelt talk with Clara to thank her for being a wonderful teacher and being there for Mia when I couldn’t be.
She apologized again for any boundaries she might have crossed, but I reassured her that Mia’s drawings weren’t her fault.
A blanket fort in a living room | Source: Midjourney
“I just feel bad, Amber,” she said as she cleaned up paintbrushes.
“I know, but you really shouldn’t, Clara,” I said. “You became a safe space for Mia, and you reminded her of how loved and cared for she is. That’s something I’ll always appreciate.”
Life isn’t perfect, but it’s a lot better. I’m learning to ask for help and to show Mia that she comes first. And now, every time she picks up her crayons, I make sure I’m sitting right next to her.
A smiling mother and daughter duo | Source: Midjourney
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you: Sam used to be a mama’s boy, always clinging to Candice and lighting up at the sight of her. But one day, that changed. He started avoiding her hugs, her kisses, and even her presence. At first, I thought it was just a phase. But there was more to it. Much more.
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.
The Real Reason Why We Haven’t Seen Lacey Chabert Lately
Actress Lacey Chabert, known for her roles in Party of Five and Mean Girls, is no longer as young as she once was.
At the height of her Mean Girls fame, she seemed to be destined for stardom, but co-star Rachel McAdams went on to become the movie’s Hollywood favorite, starring in movies including The Notebook, Spotlight, and Wedding Crashers.
Even Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Seyfried, who costarred in Mean Girls, were able to hold onto their fame; Lohan was merely Lindsay Lohan, while Seyfried was given well-regarded parts.
But what has Lacey Chabert been doing with her time since then? Actually, she’s found her true calling somewhere else.
Lacey Chabert has achieved success over the years in this way.
A shift in emphasis
Julia Mimi Bella, a daughter, was born to Lacey Chabert as her first child in September 2016.
According to E! News, the actress went into full nesting mode in preparation for her daughter’s arrival. She set up the nursery and even spoke with her pet friend, a chihuahua named Kitty, during a pre-interview.
Chabert was obviously happy to welcome her daughter Julia, but it’s possible that motherhood changed her priorities.
This was evident when Chabert discussed the challenges of balancing her new career path with her life as a working mother in the entertainment world in the fall and winter of 2018. Yes, this was during the press tour for her 16th Hallmark movie.
“If you had told me two years ago that this is what my career would look like today, I think I would have been surprised, but it’s such a great fit for who I am and where I am in my life right now,” Chabert said in an interview with the Clarion Ledger in November 2018.
She’ll never be separated from Gretchen Wieners.
The iconic Gretchen Wieners from Mean Girls, portrayed by Chabert, is credited with coining the catchphrase “that’s so fetch.” Perhaps she is still thought of by Hollywood as the dimwitted teenager whose father invented the Toaster Strudel?
It’s easy to get typecast in Hollywood, after all—just look at the lovable romantic actress Jennifer Aniston or the eternally quirky Helena Bonham Carter.
When it comes to her more popular work, Chabert’s career identity is still entirely contained in a single film. Ten years after the Mean Girls film’s debut, Chabert told Entertainment Weekly in 2014, “People tweet me hundreds of times, if not thousands of times [with] lines from the movie.”
To be fair, though, she finds the association unsettling. In fact, if a sequel were ever created, Chabert told Star in December 2018 that she “would love to be a part of it.” Give Tina Fey a call now!
The Hallmark movies with Lacey Chabert in them
Lacey Chabert had starred in more than 20 Hallmark Channel shows as of the time of writing.
That’s a lot of productions for any channel, much less one that specializes in the campy, saccharine sweet fare that any mother on earth could not resist. However, Hallmark isn’t exactly the place to go if you’re searching for an Oscar nomination or the next big blockbuster sensation.
Other well-known actors who have appeared in Hallmark movies include Dean Cain, Danica McKellar, and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
When was the last time you saw them in an A-list film? Nevertheless, Chabert is obviously happy with her new network and the endearing series it airs—which, in an Entertainment Weekly interview, she described as “like comfort food.”
Her prolific output of holiday-themed content for Hallmark is also no coincidence.”Christmas is my favorite holiday. I’m obsessed with it, as everyone who knows me will attest,” Chabert told the Clarion Ledger.”I wish it lasted for more than just one month each year. It follows that my enjoyment of creating Christmas movies is only natural.
Maybe Lacey Chabert’s convictions prevented her from seeing more
In Tinseltown circles, there’s a notion that success doesn’t always follow from a strong Christian faith (Mel Gibson and Candace Cameron Bure are two examples).
The Hercules TV series actor Kevin Sorbo stated to CNS News in 2014, “I think you get attacked in Hollywood if you’re a conservative and a Christian.”That same year, Chabert starred in the film Christian Mingle, which got just three “rotten” reviews overall from reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
Is it possible that Chabert’s lack of success in Hollywood is a result of her public confession of her religious beliefs?
Chabert said, “You know, my faith has always been the center of my life, and I have no shame about saying that,” in an exclusive interview with Christian Mingle.
She also added, “I think it’s beautiful that she comes to a point where her faith is something that’s very personal and alive for her, and I think it’s a nice message,” as an explanation for her interest to the movie character.
Chabert added that she wouldn’t consider some movie roles due to the way a character’s faith is shown in the piece.
The money from Lacey Chabert’s flicks hasn’t been great.
According to Forbes, A-list stars Jennifer Lawrence and Scarlett Johansson earned $46 million and $25 million, respectively, in 2016. Their films’ success has made them profitable.
Sadly, Chabert’s movies don’t live up to the hype, with the exception of Mean Girls and a few minor hits. It is possible that casting directors are reluctant to offer a big-budget film role to an actor who hasn’t been in one for more than ten years.
For the ordinary person, Chabert’s estimated net worth of $4 million is nothing to laugh at, but in comparison to some of her friends, it is noticeably less impressive.
Chabert’s biggest project was really the 2003 slapstick comedy about parenthood, Daddy Day Care, starring Eddie Murphy. The movie was not well received.
The Numbers claims that the film brought in over $104 million domestically, but is there any evidence linking Chabert to it? Probably not.
Chabert’s success has waned after Mean Girls gained popularity a year later and earned over $86 million domestically in 2004. Lawrence, on the other hand, made nearly $281 million at the box office with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.
How is Lacey Chabert doing at Family Guy?
For an actress, working with Chabert might not be the easiest. Due to contractual issues, Mila Kunis replaced her as the original pick to play Meg Gryphon in the wildly successful Family Guy television series, as reported by The Huffington Post.
Despite the fact that Seth MacFarlane, the show’s creator, and the actress have both responded with greater tact, there are rumors that Chabert and the show had a falling out.
According to Chabert, “I actually left the show of my own accord,” as reported by GameSpy (via The Huffington Post). and only because Party of Five was what I was doing at the time while I was in school. However, I find the show entertaining and have no animosity toward [Kunis]. I believe she is an excellent actress.According to MacFarlane, no one could “even remember” why Chabert left, as he told IGN.”It was nothing at all; there was no tension at all.””[Kunis] was in many ways, I thought, almost more right for the character,” he continued.
Everything looks okay, so why is there an overt Family Guy episode clip? We’ll let you to decide.
At heart, Lacey Chabert is a girl from a little town.
The pastor of Purvis, Mississippi, and uncle of Lacey Chabert, despite her success with Party of Five and Mean Girls, told the Clarion Ledger that “none of this movie stuff has gone to her head.”Chabert told the newspaper that she feels the same way and tries to see her “extended family” who is still in Purvis, where she grew up till she was seven years old.
“I am incredibly happy to come from Purvis. I’m grateful for the morals that were taught to me there,” she continued.”I adore the people and am grateful for all of their help over the years.”
It makes natural to think that Chabert would decline travel-intensive professions so she could be close to her family. In reference to those principles from her little village that she mentioned? That could have also affected her choice of employment.
She desires to explore new business ventures.
While it’s clear that Lacey Chabert feels at ease in front of the camera, she has established professional objectives that will require her to spend more time out of the spotlight as she pursues them.
Chabert disclosed that she works behind the scenes at the Hallmark Channel in addition to acting as the network’s unofficial face in an interview with the Clarion Ledger.
“I’m more motivated than ever,” Chabert said to the newspaper in reference to her new role as executive producer. “I want to share so many experiences, and I want to learn more about many facets of the industry. My weakness is that I adore narrating stories. And I recall observing and taking in all that goes into producing a show while working on the Party of Five set. And at some point, I’d like to concentrate on that professionally.
Based on her IMDb biography, Chabert seemed to have succeeded at this, as seen by her seven producer credits on Hallmark movies from 2016 to 2020.
In addition, she not only starred in all seven of those Hallmark movies that she isn’t producing, but also in every one of those shows. Was she bundled up by Hollywood and sent to Hallmark?
Lacey Chabert is making things work on her terms.
Even though Chabert operated for years without drawing much attention from the public, it seems like she carved up a pretty successful career for herself.
She has been chosen for a number of voice roles, such as those in The Wild Thornberrys! Menace of Mecha Mutt and Scooby Doo. Just going down that route may get her back on the A-List like Anna Kendrick did in Trolls or Reese Witherspoon did in Sing, or it could just keep her relevant by bringing in some younger fans.
However, Chabert may be beginning to adopt a mompreneurship style similar to that of Jessica Alba. During her late-2018 press trip, Chabert incessantly advertised Tyson Meal Kits, which she personally supports.
These can be seen here and here as examples. She also told Good Housekeeping that the company’s current photographic style—hint: quick—goes well with Hallmark’s.
Regarding Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe, which debuted in 2018, Chabert told Good Housekeeping, “This movie was shot in 15 days, as were most Hallmark movies.”
She went on, “Being a hands-on mom and working is challenging, but I’m grateful to work at a place that makes it easier for me,” before once more endorsing Tyson Meal Kits, which she characterized as “quicker and stress free.”
These days, someone knows where her bread is buttered, and it’s not the massive Hollywood studio system.
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