Lucas was being remarkably well-behaved for a six-month-old, content to chew on his teething toys and observe all the activity around him. Occasionally, he would babble or laugh at something that caught his attention, drawing brief smiles from around the table before the adult conversation resumed. He was fascinated by the lights from Vanessa’s equipment, reaching toward them with the determined focus that babies have when something captures their interest.

Midway through the main course, Vanessa decided she wanted to film some candid family interaction footage. She had her cameraman position himself to capture what she called “natural holiday moments,” though there was nothing natural about performing dinner conversation for an audience of thousands. She directed us to continue eating and talking “normally” while she provided commentary about the “beautiful chaos of family gatherings.”

This was when things began to deteriorate, though so gradually that it was hard to pinpoint exactly when the shift occurred. Vanessa had always been particular about maintaining control over her environment, but the combination of filming pressures and her usual need to be the center of attention seemed to be escalating her stress level.