The next evening, she came downstairs in the dress I made. “Because I don’t choose based on price tags,” she told Cassandra at the school entrance. “I choose based on love.” The next morning, Lily posted a photo online, praising the dress I made and what it meant to her. Her message went viral. A few days later, Cassandra sent Lily a message demanding $1,000 for the unused dress. Lily calmly replied, “I already had all I needed from my mom.”

Cassandra blocked her. My ex apologized, but the damage was done. I framed a picture of Lily in the dress next to one of my mom teaching me to sew. Some things money can’t buy—and love, stitched into every seam, is one of them.