My daughter wanted an expensive designer prom dress I couldn’t afford, and she rejected the dress I made, calling me “worthless.” Raising Hannah alone since her dad left for a wealthier woman, I’ve always tried to provide the best for her despite our limited means.

Hannah demanded a costly prom dress, and when I suggested making one, she scoffed. “That’s going to look gross, mom!” she screamed. Her friend Amy loved my design, but Hannah wasn’t impressed and declared she’d get her dad to buy her a proper dress, calling me a “worthless loser.”

Despite her disdain, I finished the dress. Amy, whose mom had passed away, admired it, saying, “I wish my mom could have made me a dress just like that one.” I offered it to Amy, and she wore it to the prom.

On prom night, Hannah wore a sophisticated red dress, but two other girls wore the same one. Amy, in my handmade dress, won the prize for the most original dress. Hannah returned home in tears, apologizing. “I was so horrible to you, mom…I am so sorry…I was a jerk, wasn’t I?” she said.

We reconciled, and she admitted her mistake, asking for hot chocolate and extra marshmallows. That night, my daughter learned a hard lesson but became my sweet little girl again.