After having my first children, I thought my husband would finally start prioritizing me and our family over his mother, but I was wrong. This time, when he chose her side over me yet again, I decided enough was enough. I exposed her for the manipulative liar she truly was.
You’d think bringing home newborn twins would be one of the happiest moments of anyone’s life. For me, it started that way—but it quickly spiraled into an absolute nightmare.
After three exhausting days in the hospital, recovering from a difficult delivery, I was finally discharged. I was excited to bring home my beautiful twin daughters, Ella and Sophie. I’d dreamed of the moment: my husband Derek meeting us at the hospital with flowers and happy tears, eagerly taking one of the girls into his arms.
But instead, everything changed with a last-minute phone call.
“Hey, baby,” Derek said, his voice tense. “I’m so sorry, but I can’t come pick you up as planned.”
“What?” I asked, cradling Sophie tightly. “Derek, I just had twins. What could possibly be so urgent—”
“It’s my mom,” he interrupted. “She’s not well. Chest pains. I need to take her to the hospital near her.”
His words felt like a cold slap. “What? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Derek, I need you here!”
“I know,” he said, sounding exasperated. “But this came up out of nowhere, and it’s serious. I’ll come to you as soon as I can.”
Fighting back my frustration and disappointment, I took a deep breath and said, “Fine. I’ll get a taxi.”
“Thank you,” he mumbled before hanging up.
Derek’s mother lived in a different city, so I knew he wouldn’t be able to get back to me that same day. Knowing how devoted Derek was to his mother, I also doubted he’d leave her alone anytime soon.
As I hung up, my heart sank. I wanted to believe Derek wasn’t being selfish, just overwhelmed. Still, the sting of disappointment was sharp. The same mother-in-law (MIL) who had insisted on having a spare set of keys to “help” me with the babies was suddenly too ill to even call for herself.
I bundled the twins into their car seats and called a cab. When we pulled into our driveway, my stomach dropped. My belongings—suitcases, diaper bags, even the crib mattress—were strewn across the front lawn.
A note was taped to one of the suitcases. With trembling hands, I unfolded it and read the message:
Get out of here with your little moochers! I know everything.
Derek.
The words were like a punch to the gut. Confused and panicked, I tried calling Derek. Straight to voicemail. Again. Nothing.
I called my mom, my voice shaking. “Derek locked me out. He threw my things outside. He left this horrible note. Mom, I don’t know what to do.”
“What?!” she exclaimed. “Stay right there. I’m coming.”
By the time she arrived, I was in tears, trying to soothe two crying babies. She took one look at the scene and said, “This doesn’t make sense. Derek loves you and the girls. He’d never do this!”
“I thought so, too,” I said, holding up the note. “But I don’t know what ‘I know everything’ means.”
My mom helped me load the bags into her car, and we headed to her house. That night, I couldn’t sleep, plagued with unanswered questions.
The next morning, I decided I needed answers. Leaving the twins with my mom, I drove back to the house. The lawn was cleared, but when I peered through a window, I saw Derek’s mother, Lorraine, sipping tea at the dining table.
I banged on the door. She answered slowly, smirking as she opened it just a crack.
“What are you doing here?” she asked coolly.
“Where’s Derek?” I demanded. “Why did he—”
“He’s at the hospital in my city,” she interrupted. “Taking care of his poor, sick mother.”
I glared at her, incredulous. “Sick? You’re standing here perfectly fine!”
She shrugged with a smug smile. “Maybe I recovered.”
“You lied,” I accused. “You faked being sick, didn’t you?”
Her smirk widened. “And?”
“Why? Why would you do this?”
“Because I told Derek from the start our family needs a boy to carry on the name. But you? You gave us two useless girls,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain.
I was stunned into silence as she went on.
“I made sure Derek wouldn’t contact you by taking his phone. I even bribed a nurse to keep him at the hospital. You were supposed to take the hint and leave, but here you are.”
Her casual cruelty was unbearable. Without another word, I stormed out and drove to the hospital.
When I found Derek, he looked relieved but confused. “Jenna! I’ve been trying to reach you. My phone’s gone, and I didn’t know your number by heart!”
“Your mother took your phone,” I said. “She faked her illness, locked me out of the house, and left that note.”
As I explained, his expression turned from confusion to rage. Without hesitation, he grabbed his keys, and we drove home.
When we arrived, Lorraine’s smugness vanished. Derek confronted her, his voice cold. “Mom, what did you do?”
“I was protecting you!” she cried.
“From my wife and daughters?” he snapped. “Get out. Now.”
For the first time, Lorraine was speechless. She packed her things and left.
Derek apologized profusely, taking steps to rebuild our life. Months later, as I held Ella and Sophie close, I realized Lorraine’s cruelty had only strengthened our family.
Some mothers-in-law can be difficult, but Lorraine took it to another level. Still, in the end, she couldn’t break us.