{"id":10502,"date":"2026-02-13T10:16:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T10:16:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/?p=10502"},"modified":"2026-02-13T10:16:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T10:16:20","slug":"my-boyfriends-mom-forbade-me-from-eating-meat-on-the-vacation-i-paid-for-i-cooked-up-a-better-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/?p=10502","title":{"rendered":"My Boyfriend\u2019s Mom Forbade Me from Eating Meat on the Vacation I Paid For \u2014 I Cooked Up a Better Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When I treated my boyfriend\u2019s family to a beach vacation, his mom welcomed me like a daughter. Then she had my dinner plate cleared without asking and announced, \u201cWe don\u2019t eat meat in this family.\u201d That\u2019s when I cooked up my revenge.Every story my boyfriend Jake told me about his family made them sound like the Waltons, complete with heartwarming moments and unconditional love.\u201cWe\u2019re tightly knit,\u201d he\u2019d say, his eyes lighting up. \u201cEven if we don\u2019t have much, we have each other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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He\u2019d paint these vivid pictures of game nights that went until dawn, inside jokes that made everyone double over with laughter, and how his little sister Sylvia hadn\u2019t left their small town since she was 11.The way he described it, you\u2019d think they were living in some perfect bubble of family bliss.So when things between us got serious, I wanted to do something special. Something that would show them I was ready to be part of their world.When I called Kathy, Jake\u2019s mom, to tell her about the trip, she actually cried on the phone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWhat if I took everyone on a vacation?\u201d I suggested one afternoon while we were enjoying coffee and cake at our favorite coffee shop.Jake\u2019s face lit up like Christmas morning. \u201cReally? You\u2019d do that?\u201d\u201cOf course. My mom works as a chef at this amazing beach resort. She could pull some strings and get us a great deal. I could cover most of it.\u201dThe idea felt perfect. Me, Jake and his family hanging out on the beach, creating memories to last a lifetime.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A woman speaking on her phone | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n

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\u201cOh, sweetheart,\u201d she said through her tears, \u201cthat\u2019s so kind of you! It\u2019s like you\u2019re already part of the family.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Those words wrapped around me like a warm blanket. It felt safe and right. Like I\u2019d done exactly what I was supposed to do.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But you know what they say about the best-laid plans, right?<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman smiling at her phone | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The second we stepped onto the resort property, something shifted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I couldn\u2019t put my finger on it at first. Maybe it was how Kathy\u2019s smile seemed a little too bright, or how she kept making these little comments about \u201cshowing me the ropes\u201d of being a real family member.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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That first night, though, all my warning bells started ringing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Beds<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Beds in a hotel room | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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We were all buzzing with excitement after settling into our rooms. I practically skipped to the dinner buffet, my stomach growling as I loaded up my plate with all my favorites.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I picked out buttery shrimp that glistened under the lights, juicy ribs that fell off the bone, and chicken skewers that smelled like heaven.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ll grab us some drinks,\u201d I told everyone, leaving my plate at our table.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A plate of food on a table | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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When I came back, balancing five glasses of tropical punch, I stopped dead in my tracks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Half the food on my plate was gone. The veggies were still there, but all the meat had vanished!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWhat happened to my food?\u201d I asked, looking around the table.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Before anyone could answer, Kathy offered me a sugar-sweet smile that made my skin crawl.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman seated at a table in a hotel restaurant smiling at someone | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cOh, darling, I asked the waiter to take that away. We don\u2019t eat meat in this family, and you won\u2019t do that here, either, not in front of Sylvie. I don\u2019t want her exposed to that kind of influence.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I stared at her. \u201cBut I eat meat.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She gave this tight, almost mocking little laugh that made my teeth clench.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWell, not this week!\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman smiling confidently at someone | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s disrespectful to us,\u201d Kathy continued, \u201cand honestly, I assumed you\u2019d care enough to adjust.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The audacity hit me like a slap. \u201cWithout warning? On the vacation I paid for?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Kathy clucked her tongue like I was a misbehaving child. \u201cSweetheart, if you can\u2019t go one week without devouring some poor animal\u2019s carcass\u2026 that\u2019s concerning.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman in a restaurant staring at someone with disapproval | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I was caught completely off guard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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True, Jake always ordered vegan or vegetarian meals when we ate out, but he\u2019d never told me his\u00a0whole family<\/i>\u00a0was vegetarian.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I stared at Jake, a thousand questions buzzing through my thoughts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman staring at someone in shock | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I expected him to jump in, to tell Kathy I didn\u2019t know about their dietary preferences, or\u00a0to remind his mother that I was the one who\u2019d made this whole trip possible and therefore had a right to eat what I wanted!<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Instead, he just murmured, \u201cMaybe just try it? For peace?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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My jaw dropped.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman staring at someone | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I realized something that made my chest tighten: he wasn\u2019t going to stand up to her. Not now, not ever.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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So I smiled and sat down.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Kathy nodded approvingly, and I decided right then and there that if we were playing games, I was going to win.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A confident-looking woman | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The next morning, while everyone slathered on sunscreen and planned snorkeling adventures, I kept my eyes on the real prize: leverage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I watched Kathy like a hawk, cataloging every habit, every preference, every weakness.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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And oh, did she have a weakness!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman smirking thoughtfully | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Kathy had a sweet tooth that would put a five-year-old to shame.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She stacked her plate like it was an Olympic event, piling it high with towers of chocolate mousse, delicate fruit tarts, and frosted croissants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She even wrapped cookies from the lobby in napkins to hoard back to the suite like some sort of sugar squirrel!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Cookies<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Cookies on a plate | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I\u2019d seen enough to know exactly where to strike, so I made a phone call to someone I knew I could count on no matter what.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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My mom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cHey, Mom,\u201d I said, stepping out onto the balcony where no one could hear. \u201cRemember how you always said you\u2019d do anything for me?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A woman making a phone call | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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She didn\u2019t even ask questions when I outlined what I wanted her to do, just said, \u201cGot it, honey. Consider it done.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The sabotage started subtly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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That evening, Kathy returned to the buffet and beelined for dessert like a woman possessed. The waiter politely stepped in just as she reached for a slice of key lime pie.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A dessert buffet | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cOh, sorry ma\u2019am, those are reserved for guests in a different tier.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She blinked, clearly confused. \u201cWhat tier? What are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cResort policy, ma\u2019am. I\u2019m very sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The next day, she tried for ice cream. The staff member manning the machine looked genuinely apologetic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Ice cream cones stacked near an ice cream machine | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cMachine\u2019s under maintenance,\u201d he said with a sympathetic shrug.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Mini cheesecakes? \u201cApologies, ma\u2019am. That tray\u2019s for guests with specific dietary needs.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Chocolate-covered strawberries? \u201cThose are for a private event, I\u2019m afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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By the third day, Kathy was unraveling faster than a cheap sweater.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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An irate woman standing in a hotel restaurant | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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She whispered furiously to Jake during breakfast, accusing a waiter of deliberately hiding the tiramisu. Her voice took on this whiny, desperate quality that made everyone at nearby tables glance over.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m starting to feel targeted,\u201d she announced, loud enough for half the dining room to hear.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Jake looked embarrassed, Sylvia rolled her eyes, and I decided it was time for the grand finale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A woman with a cunning smile | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I leaned across the table with my sweetest smile.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cOh, Kathy,\u201d I cooed, my voice dripping with fake concern. \u201cI just don\u2019t want your family seeing you eat all that sugar. It\u2019s basically poison, and I wouldn\u2019t want anyone exposed to that kind of influence. You understand, right?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Her face went stark white. For a moment, she looked like she\u2019d been slapped.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A woman staring at someone in shock | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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She blinked, then blinked again, like she couldn\u2019t compute what I\u2019d just said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I tilted my head, mimicking her own condescending cadence from that first night.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cLook, if avoiding sweets makes you this cranky, maybe you should see a therapist\u2026 but most of all, don\u2019t you\u00a0ever<\/i>\u00a0tell me what I can or can\u2019t eat again. Especially not when you\u2019re going to spring it on me during a trip I helped pay for.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman with a fierce look in her eyes smiling at someone in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A hush fell over the table. Even the background noise of the restaurant seemed to fade.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Except for Sylvia, who giggled into her napkin like she\u2019d been waiting for this moment her whole life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Jake smirked. Even he wasn\u2019t defending his mother anymore.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The following night, there was no talk of meat, no sideways glances, and no smug lectures about my dietary choices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A table in a restaurant | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I returned to the buffet and made a plate loaded with steak tips, ribs, and chicken thighs. The works.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Kathy didn\u2019t say a word. She just sat there, picking at her salad like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Jake gave me a slight nod, like he finally understood that respect goes both ways.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Sylvia gave me a wink that said more than words ever could.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A teen girl winking at someone | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But just before dessert arrived (a massive chocolate cake that Kathy eyed hungrily), she cleared her throat. Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Two words. That\u2019s all it took.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s all I wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A woman smiling faintly at someone | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Sometimes the best lessons come wrapped in the most unexpected packages. And sometimes, standing up for yourself means playing the game better than anyone else at the table.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As I watched Kathy finally enjoy her slice of cake, I realized something important: I really was part of the family now. Not because I\u2019d paid for a vacation or because I\u2019d rolled over and accepted disrespect.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"A<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A confident-looking woman | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But because I\u2019d shown them exactly who I was. And more importantly, who I wasn\u2019t willing to become.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I treated my boyfriend\u2019s family to a beach vacation, his mom welcomed me like a daughter. Then she had my dinner plate cleared without asking and announced, \u201cWe don\u2019t … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10503,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,22,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family","category-inspiration","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10502","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10502"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10502\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10504,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10502\/revisions\/10504"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}