My mother-in-law has always been vocal about her dislike of my parenting. She’s called me a “failed mother” more times than I can count and constantly interferes in our lives. I’ve always tried to keep the peace, but things reached a breaking point during our recent family trip—a trip my husband insisted she join.
On the second day, my 4-year-old son suddenly became violently ill. He started vomiting uncontrollably, and as I panicked, my mother-in-law did something I will never forget. She smiled.
“It’s because I gave him a lesson in manners,” she said calmly. She explained that he had spoken “disrespectfully” to her, so she decided to raise her voice—admittedly, she said, “probably too much.” She claimed my son was so shocked by her yelling that he had a nervous breakdown. My child, who is used to a home filled with love and calm voices, literally couldn’t handle the trauma of her “parenting methods.”
I was horrified. My child was physically sick from the stress she caused, yet she was proud of herself. She blamed me for the whole thing, saying it only happened because I hadn’t taught him manners “in the proper ways.”
Now, I’m stuck. I can’t trust her around my children, but my husband is still pushing me to “keep the peace.” He keeps saying she’s family and that we have to include her. I feel trapped between a woman who is willing to traumatize my child to prove a point and a husband who won’t stand up for his own family.
I used to ignore her comments, but I realize now that silence isn’t an option when your child’s health is on the line. I’m done being a doormat. If “keeping the peace” means letting her destroy my son’s mental well-being, then the peace is already gone.
