After my mother-in-law gave her granddaughter an expensive bike and took it back a few days later, I decided to discipline her.
My mother-in-law recently gave our five-year-old daughter a brand-new pink bicycle. gleaming, with white tires and a heart-shaped basket. It wasn’t cheap, and my husband and I had already agreed that the present would only be given as a special surprise on her birthday. But my mother-in-law thought otherwise.
With a radiant smile, she added, “I simply couldn’t resist.” — My grandchild deserves the finest!
Our daughter squealed with joy as she rode around the yard all day. Naturally, we gave my mother-in-law our gratitude. She flatly refused our offer to cover some of the expense:
I would do all in my power to assist her. I spent even my last savings. Don’t worry about it.
I soon learned, though, that we had all paid far more than we had expected.
At first, it seemed harmless. She just started to visit more often. A lot more. Almost every day.
She said, “Look how happy she is,” with a tight smile. — You would still be putting off the bike, so I’m glad I stepped in.
She then started making brief, “casual” remarks:
I spent my every dollar on that gift, you know. Well, the only thing that counts is that my granddaughter is happy.
At first, we thought she was only interested in getting engaged. But then something changed. She started to complain:
— Do not park the bike like that! We’ll scrap it!
— Once more, you drove straight across the puddle? What occurs if it is broken?
Our daughter listened with her head down. Her passion for riding had faded. The bike felt nearly unlawful. I tried to communicate with my mother-in-law:
Mom, please don’t put any pressure on the child. It’s only a toy.
She felt insulted. stayed silent. And the next morning, something unexpected happened.
When I woke up, I could hear my daughter sobbing. She stood in her pajamas by the garage, holding the empty chain from the lock. The bicycle had vanished. My mother-in-law had only taken it back.
In a follow-up message, she said, “I took the bike.” If you can’t take care of things, I’ll teach your child how to.
Our little girl cried till she began to hiccup. We couldn’t calm her down. That’s when I knew I had to get even with her. I also did something that I have no regrets about. The whole story is contained in the first comment.
The next day, we went to get a new bike. Our daughter grinned again, but it didn’t have the same sparkle as the first time. Then it occurred to me that this question needed to be answered.
The next evening, I called someone.
— Mom, we’re coming over. I’m hoping you’re home.
She was. When she came out to greet us, she was certain that everything had been resolved. I wasn’t alone, though.
Two hefty males followed me. As we walked into her living room, I pointed to the leather couch my husband and I had given her for her birthday six months earlier.
“This one?” remarked one of them.
“Yes,” I answered calmly. – Embrace it.
Then my mother-in-law gasped.
— Are you insane? That’s my couch!
I looked straight at her:
The couch is too expensive to be abused. There’s a scratch, see? It’s clear that you have no idea how to handle it. We are concerned about its condition.
She stood in the middle of the room, as pale as the wall behind her.
