I never imagined a week away at Grandma’s would unravel everything.

I’m Abby, 34, married to Brad for seven years with two kids: Lucas, 8, and Sophie, 6. My mother-in-law, Jean, in her late 60s, has always been intense—polite, but controlling. When she suggested taking the kids for a week over holiday break, I thought it’d be harmless. A little bonding time, a break for me.

But when I arrived to pick them up, something felt off. The house was eerily quiet. Jean greeted me with a forced smile, and when I asked where the kids were, she said they were in the backyard, “working.”

I found Lucas and Sophie exhausted, their clothes dirty and torn. Lucas told me, “Grandma said we had to help. If we worked hard, we’d go to the park… but we never did.”

I was furious. “Jean, you promised me a fun week, not child labor!”

Jean defensively shrugged, claiming they needed to learn responsibility. My heart sank. I had given her $1,000 for activities and food, but she admitted using it for her bills instead.

With my anger boiling over, I grabbed my kids and told Jean we were leaving. As we walked out, Lucas asked softly, “Are we ever coming back?” I replied, “Not until Grandma learns to treat you the way you deserve.”

The trust I’d placed in Jean was shattered.