My Heart Stopped after I Saw What My Mother-in-Law Did to My Son on His 2nd Birthday

Claudia is a carefree mother who just wants the best for her son. However, her mother-in-law is an orthodox, rigid woman who demands the last word. When Claudia returns from leaving her mother-in-law with her son Jackson, she is appalled by what she finds.
It never occurred to me that the woman who brought up my husband could be so harsh.

And yet, there she was, my mother-in-law Judith, grinning.

My mother-in-law and I had never had the best of relationships. She was an extremely conservative woman who expected complete subservience from her family and firmly believed in conventional gender roles.

Harvey, my husband, once told me that his mother had discovered him playing with his sister’s dolls and had thrown them out.

“I must have been around a year or so,” he replied. But she’s always been that strict. If I’m being really honest, it’s very ludicrous.”
I wouldn’t submit to anyone’s whims, unlike her family, especially when it came to my values and my kin.

Judith and I had many, acrimonious arguments over the years, but we had always managed to keep things polite.

However, I pressed Harvey after my son Jackson was born.

“She can be as present as she wants to be,” I replied. “But she will not tell me how to raise our son.”

Harvey concurred, and we carried on raising our child according to our own standards, free from any antiquated notions of “traditional” manhood.

Now, Judith was pissed off that I would question the matriarch’s beliefs, but she tried for Harvey and Jackson’s sake. But she never shied away from telling me how she felt about me.
And that was fine with me. I was stronger than that.

But on my son’s second birthday, nothing could have prepared me for what she did.

Harvey and I came to the decision that we could always celebrate our children’s birthdays by throwing them a party.

Thus, we invited our families to a party we threw for Jackson’s second birthday at home.

Judith detested my son’s hair, but she still loved him.

A few weeks before the birthday, she said, “Long hair is for girls, Claudia.”

“You must trim it. Jackson is not a famous person’s child. They make peculiar choices for their offspring.”

“I’m not going to do that,” I answered. Jackson’s hair looked great just the way it was.

My little boy’s golden locks were dancing around his face as he wore a superhero outfit.

Judith entered our house while gripping a gift bag.

“It’s reserved for later,” she stated. “I’ll bring it out after the cake.”
As Jackson’s birthday celebration got underway, the house was taken over by our youngsters. My son shone as brightly as the sun when it came time to sing and cut the cake.

Judith responded, “Claudia,” once we had fed every child. “Can I have a piece of cake and some tea?”

Since she had behaved herself admirably, I was unable to say no. Jackson was enjoying a piece of his birthday cake while perched on his lap, his fingers dripping with frosting, when I left him.

However, when I turned to face the scene that broke my heart into a million pieces, I was carrying the cake out for her.

Jackson’s grandmother’s hand had severed his golden curls, which moments earlier had adorned his face, and they were now strewn all over the floor. The present bag, which I assumed contained the scissors she had used, was lying at her feet.
I was unable to understand the hatred that was shining in her eyes as she studied her creation.

She said to him, “There,” letting him off her lap.
“What did you do?” With the cake tumbling out of my grasp, I demanded.

She stated, “I’m just playing,” in a tone brimming with pretended innocence. “It will regrow. Allow him to experience the sensation of having short hair as a boy.”

“Get out!” I cried out.

It’s not that significant. It will regrow. Claudia, get over it!” she growled.

Not very important? Before I call the police, leave the area!” I let out a cry.
Harvey had been amusing some of the other parents on the porch when he ran in.

“Claudia, what happened?”

I didn’t have to say anything because Harvey immediately became furious after taking in the scene.

And Harvey faced his mother with an intensity that allowed no possibility of compromise or reconciliation for the first time since we’d been married.

“Mom, get out now. And don’t anticipate being welcomed back into our house,” he said in a low growl that was brimming with treachery and rage instead of the normal soft tone.
Reiterating that Jackson’s hair will come back and that it wouldn’t be a huge problem, Judith attempted to defend her conduct. However, we were aware that this was only the start of a conflict with Judith, one that we had never requested.
Jackson appeared OK, but he kept putting his hands to his head, as though he was attempting to feel for his curls once more.

Holding our boy close, Harvey and I vowed to keep him safe from danger. However, the damage was already done because Judith had acted independently.

Harvey’s father and sister retaliated, saying we had insulted and injured Judith over petty differences. But we also understood that we had to maintain the integrity of our family and remain firm for our son.
If you were in my position, how would you respond?

Here’s an additional tale for you: Birthdays are special to Janisse. She therefore wishes to throw a lavish dinner party at home for her husband’s birthday, complete with relatives and friends. But when her mother-in-law arrives and assumes command, things quickly get out of hand.