Mom threatens to call police after mother-in-law takes 7 and 10-year-old kids back to her place against parent's wishes: '[I] told her if she ever took my kids without permission again, I’d call the police'

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Dec 6, 2024 6:00 PM EST

We all have idyllic visions of our family, especially our grandparents, at least for those of us who were fortunate to grow up with grandparents who showed us nothing but love and kindness.

It's weird, though, when you grow up and realize that your own in-laws are also going to be your kid's grandparents and extended family—which puts everything into a new perspective. And no matter how you feel about your in-laws, there are always going to be some strained moments. What's somehow even stranger, though, is coming to find that for your sibling's kids, you're either "dad's side" or "mom's side" of the family.

Anyways, given how we feel about our grandparents, if your kid is telling you in earnest that they don't feel comfortable going to grandma's house, that alone is saying something. These parents didn't feel comfortable letting the kids go around to their grandmother's house with her relatively unknown boyfriends around, their repeated refusal to let the kids come over prompted her to take matters into her own hands, resulting in this confrontation. Frustrated, the mother shared her story with this online community to see if she was wrong for her part in the escalation. 

See a selection of the story below, along with some of the community's responses.

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    via Ravi Patel

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    Image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Image is for illustration only and subjects are models.

  • 02
    AITA for threatening to call the police, against my MIL after she took my kids without permission? I (34F) have always had a tough relationship with my MIL (60F). She's been pushing us to send our kids (7F and 10M) to her house more often ever since her divorce, but my husband (37M) and I aren't comfortable with it.
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM
  • 03
    She has a lot of boyfriends coming and going, and while that's her business, I don't want my kids around strangers. My son even mentioned once that he didn't feel comfortable around one of her boyfriends, and that was enough for me to draw a line. My husband agreed, so we've stuck to the rule: if she wants to see the kids, she can either come to our place or we can meet somewhere else. She
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM
  • 04
    doesn't like this and has complained plenty, but we've been firm about it. This weekend, though, things blew up. She offered to watch the kids while my husband and I ran errands, which we thought was her way of trying to make peace. She came over, and everything seemed fine when we left. But when we got home, she and the kids were gone.
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM
  • 05
    I called her immediately, and she casually told me they were at her house. She said the kids missed her and were going to stay the night. I was furious. This was NOT what we agreed to. My husband tried to calm me down, saying it was fine and that we could relax for the evening. I reminded him why we
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM
  • 06
    don't send the kids to her house, especially with her boyfriend around. My husband called her to ask if he was there, and she swore he wasn't. But I didn't trust her. We drove to her place, and guess what? Her boyfriend's car was parked outside.
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM
  • 07
    We knocked on the door and told her we decided we wanted to have dinner with the kids instead. We were polite to avoid making a scene, but she went off. She accused us of judging her for having a boyfriend and trying to control her life. I snapped and told her if she ever took my kids without permission again, I'd call the police. She started crying and yelling, and we left with the kids. Now my husband says he agrees with me that what she did was wrong,
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM
  • 08
    but he thinks I didn't need to yell or threaten her. I don't feel bad about it, though. She crossed a major line, and I feel like I had to stand my ground. AITA?
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM
  • 09
    Raptor007 21h ago • NTA. You and your husband set rules and she was watching the kids at your house. She took them to her home where her boyfriend was and your kids have been uncomfortable around the boyfriend.
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM
  • 10
    I would refuse to let her be alone with the kids period and yes calling the cops is a very reasonable thing She can have boyfriends. not a problem but you don't want your kids around them.
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM
  • 11
    Wed_PennyD... 22h ago So he's fine with his mom bold-face lying to him?
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM
  • 12
    • pixie-ann 21h ago. Top 1% Commenter NTA she cannot be trusted. Nothing she says anymore can be believed. Your husband needs a kick in the pants because he is going too soft here and failing to properly care for his children.
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM
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    Why is she so keen to have the kids over there at the same time as her boyfriend? Is that the boyfriend's idea? Do you have his full name and if so, do some googling. See if there are any police reports on him.
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM
  • 14
    4getmenotsnot • 21h ago. . She doesn't get to see the kids as much as she'd like yet the first chance she has to do that she takes them to her house, out of the comfort of their home, to be with boyfriend instead? NTA. Supervised visits from here on out.
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM
  • 15
    Road Warrior... • 22h ago. I hate people who do what THEY want with little to no regards for anyone else. You may have to get a restraining order against your azz hole MIL
    via CHUPIYAHOTUM

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family dynamics family drama aita AITAH infant in law kids siblings moms family feud parenting in laws family grandparents pregnant reddit thread parent raising kids Parenting Fail parents children
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