During a family trip to Pine Ridge Resort, my daughter Chloe — who has been working since she was 15 — treated everyone to drinks after finishing some work on her laptop. At just 21, she balances a corporate job and college, paying her own bills with pride. But instead of celebrating her hard work, my sister-in-law Linda mocked her in front of everyone, calling her “a spoiled little brat” and insisting she lived off us.

I couldn’t stay silent. I explained that Chloe has paid for her own expenses since she was a teenager — from her laptop to her tuition — all while maintaining top grades. But Linda continued, egged on by her own children, who still rely entirely on their parents. Chloe, embarrassed and hurt, left the table in tears. That night, I reminded her that her success is nothing to apologize for — jealousy was the real problem, not her achievements.

Weeks later, at Chloe’s 22nd birthday, Linda and her kids tried to humiliate her again with a mocking “gift.” This time, Chloe stood tall. She calmly told her cousins that if they wanted what she had, they could try working instead of relying on their parents. Her confidence silenced them, and they left the party in anger.

Watching Chloe defend herself filled me with pride. She had learned an important lesson: people may resent your success, but their jealousy is not your burden. “I’m done apologizing for working hard,” she told me that night. And I knew she was right — no one should ever feel ashamed of earning their own way.