At 37, I thought I had full control of my life—until my mom showed up uninvited to dinner with my new boyfriend, Theo… and a list of rules.

She’d always been overbearing—tracking my every move, spying from her car, even hiding in my closet during our date. “I’m just checking for lavender,” she claimed. Theo handled it with grace—even passed her “table-wiping” test—but stormed off after reading her ridiculous list titled: “RULES FOR DATING MY DAUGTER.”

Three days later, he returned—not to date me, but to take both of us out. From his literature lecture to a lake picnic, Theo charmed even my suspicious mom. When she slipped into the water, he dove in after her. She cracked a smile—for the first time.

Later, he proposed. “Not even your mom’s list could scare me away.”

I said yes.

Mom changed. She started Pilates, wore color, and we finally lived separately—but remained close. I became the woman I was always meant to be… and so did she.