I Banned My MIL from Seeing My Baby Because She Refuses to Babysit

When both parents work full-time, managing life with a small child can be challenging. Lenny turned to her mother-in-law, who had ample free time, for help. However, her mother-in-law refused to babysit all day, stating it wasn’t her responsibility. Feeling overwhelmed and devastated, the young mom reached out to us for advice

This is Lenny’s letter:

My MIL does nothing but Zumba and gossip with friends. I asked her to babysit our 2-year-old son while my husband and I work full-time.

She declared, “That’s not a grandma’s job! I’m the grandma, not your sitter!” My husband stayed silent. I banned her from seeing my baby and hired a nanny

Days later, the nanny called me in tears, panicked and trembling. I rushed home and froze when I found my baby’s crib empty.

I opened the closet and almost fainted when I saw that all his belongings were gone, as if he had vanished. The nanny explained that my MIL had forced her way in and taken my baby.

I tried calling my MIL, but her phone was busy. When I called my husband, he sounded unbothered, saying, “Don’t worry, our baby is safe with her-she’s his grandma, after all.”

Furious, I retrieved my son from my MIL’s house. She defended herself, saying, “You have no right to keep my grandson away from me!”

Now, I’m livid and at a loss. Did I overreact by banning her from seeing him? How do I handle this situation?