Linda, my mother-in-law, has always seemed like a nice person to me. But when I found out that she was being mean to my 12-year-old son from a previous marriage, I knew I had to do something. What I found out shocked me, and I vowed to tell everyone what she was really like.
As a single mum, I had always looked out for my son Peter. I thought Linda would be a good addition to our lives when I married Greg. But when no one was around, she showed who she really was. Peter would often be quiet and distant when he got home from seeing Linda. I knew something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
I chose to surprise the boys at Linda’s house one day. Everything changed after what I saw. I heard Linda saying mean things to Peter that made him feel like he wasn’t important. I had to move quickly, so I took notes on the evidence while my sad and angry heart raced.
But how could I tell everyone about Linda without hurting my kids more? I had to make a plan. I thought of an event coming up at Linda’s school where she would be giving a speech. It was the best chance to tell the truth.
A friend helped me put the recording on a USB drive, and then I got ready to talk to Linda about it. My friend showed the movie on a big screen as she took the stage.
When Linda said those mean things, the room went silent. Parents let out gasps, teachers glared, and the director rushed to stop it.
Linda’s job was over at that very moment. The school board put her on suspension, and parents asked that their kids be taken out of her class. I fought for my son, and the law was followed.
And as I drove home that night, I felt calm and at ease. I had kept my kids safe and told the truth about Linda. It was hard, but it was worth it. It was only important that Peter and Matthew were safe.
