Eye To Eye
She’d rarely seen eye to eye with her mother-in-law. The woman had long been on her case, making her feel like she wasn’t good enough to be part of the family.
The mom never took this treatment to heart. As long as her husband and daughter were fine, she would endure everything her mother-in-law threw at her.
But everything changed when she discovered what the woman was doing to her daughter.
Bathing
Her mother-in-law had been bathing her two-month-old daughter for a whole week now. At first, the mom was thankful. She was still new to motherhood and appreciated all the help she could get.
But things started to get out of hand when her mother-in-law would show up at random times of the day and bathe the baby.
It didn’t matter whether the mom had already done it. Eager to get to the bottom of the issue, the mom placed a hidden nanny cam in the bathroom. What she’d uncover would leave her speeding to her mother-in-law’s house.
It Wasn’t Supposed To Go This Far
But Maya Jackson never thought things would go this far when she allowed her mother-in-law into her family’s life this way. Lately, things had been getting out of control for her, and she really needed a hand.
Maya was a dedicated and passionate Biology teacher from Tampa, Florida, with a heart of gold.
She’d managed to achieve a lot in her life by the age of twenty-nine, from a great career she loved to a wonderful husband named Michael McElhearn.
Her Husband
Michael was a brilliant doctor who snared her heart since their first meeting.
Their love story was one for the ages, filled with laughter, adventure, and an unbreakable bond that would last through this lifetime and any others to come.
However, amidst this paradise swirled a dark cloud in the name of Maya’s strained relationship with her mother-in-law, Eleanor McElhearn.
Meeting Her
From the moment Maya met Eleanor, she felt a palpable disapproval emanating from her.
Eleanor believed her son could have done better than Maya, and she wasn’t shy about making it known.
Maya’s humble background and career as a teacher didn’t quite meet Eleanor’s expectations. She had hoped Michael would marry a doctor or someone from a similar social standing.
No Boundaries
But love knows no boundaries, and Michael saw the remarkable person Maya was. They married in a beautiful ceremony, promising to stand by each other through thick and thin.
Their union was sealed with the birth of a baby girl, Emma, who became the apple of their eyes.
Emma was a beautiful child in every sense of the word. Maya hoped she’d be the catalyst to make Eleanor’s hate dissolve finally.
Lifestyle Changes
With Emma’s birth came several lifestyle changes that Maya and Michael had to employ in their lives.
Both of them had always wanted kids. They’d spent months conversing about how good they would be as mom and dad.
But now that their wish had been answered, they saw how difficult the task of caring for and bringing up a child was. Add this to the fact that both parents were career people, and the problems started stacking upon themselves.
Eager To Help
Luckily for Maya, everyone in their family was eager to help with baby Emma. But none was as driven to the cause as Maya’s mother-in-law, Eleanor.
As Maya had hoped while bringing Emma into the world, it seemed the child’s mere existence had become the catalyst to make Eleanor’s hate and constant disapproval of Maya subside.
But Maya had no idea what her mother-in-law would do to her child.
Planned Visits
It all began with planned visits from Eleanor. She’d show up every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon to see her granddaughter.
She usually brought gifts for mother and child and would spend a few minutes genuinely talking to Maya.
On the other hand, Maya was thankful for these visits. She saw them as an opportunity to mend her and her mother-in-law’s strained relationship. She couldn’t have guessed how all this would end.
Yearning For A Connection
Maya yearned for a connection with her mother-in-law, believing that love and understanding could bridge the gap between her and the woman.
Yet, as time passed, she noticed an odd pattern during Eleanor’s visits. Every time she came over, without fail, she would insist on bathing Emma.
At first, Maya welcomed the help, grateful for a moment of respite. Eleanor seemed genuinely caring toward the baby, and Maya thought it was her way of trying to bond. She should have known that this was something else entirely.
She Needs Another Bath
As the visits continued, Maya couldn’t help but feel uneasy. It didn’t matter if she had already bathed Emma or not – Eleanor always insisted on giving her a bath.
The situation grew increasingly bizarre, raising suspicions in Maya’s mind.
Why was her mother-in-law always bathing Emma? Maya decided it was time to uncover the truth.
Looking Into It
Maya started assessing Eleanor’s every move whenever she visited. She noticed a few things that raised her eyebrows. First, Eleanor never used any bottle of shampoo on Emma.
Second, she didn’t use the assortment of ointments and lotions Maya bought for the baby. Instead, she carried her own ointments and lotions.
These items were the tamest of what she usually carried in her bag. But things changed when Maya saw the water from Emma’s bath.
Unexplainable Herbs And Spices
Maya found bits of what looked like herbs and spices in her daughter’s bath water. A skincare enthusiast familiar with numerous bathing herbs, Maya couldn’t recognize the ones in her baby’s water. Now alarmed, she studied everything her mother-in-law did.
She realized that among the items she carried in her bag was an assortment of herbs in small labelless containers. Maya didn’t know what any of these herbs were.
Some were freshly green, with earthy scents that made her chest constrict, while others were dry and made her sneeze.
There’s More
Others were wet, soupy, and smelled like dirty shoes in large amounts, while others were surprisingly pleasant to inhale. What were these herbs, and why was Eleanor using them while bathing Emma?
Maya knew she couldn’t bring up the herbs to her mother-in-law.
She felt their relationship was the best it had ever been and was blinded by that instead of seeking the truth. Regardless, she wouldn’t let any of this slide.
Find An Expert
Maya decided to visit the local herbalist in the town’s farmer’s market. If there were anything to know about these herbs, the herbalist would tell her.
She took a few samples and returned the containers to Eleanor’s handbag.
She ensured everything was alright at home before driving to the farmer’s market. She needed to understand what was happening here.
At The Farmers Market
The farmer’s market was packed with buyers and tourists when Maya arrived. She went straight to the herbalist and laid out the herbs.
She explained what was happening, asking the specialist if any of the herbs before her were dangerous to an infant.
The herbalist took her time with the herbs. She inhaled some of them while others she rubbed in between the pads of her fingers. Others she daubed against her tongue, while others she outright ate. What was she doing?
An Hour
The herbalist took about an hour on the assortment of herbs. But she informed Maya that although each of the herbs was extremely rare, none of them were dangerous to her child.
In fact, her mother-in-law was onto something because all of the herbs were good for the baby’s skin and hair growth.
Maya thought everything was fine. The information she’d gotten here had put her heart at ease. But the herbalist leaned in before sharing something that would have her rushing home.
The Truth
“While all of these herbs are good by themselves,” she began, “combining and ingesting them, even in tiny amounts, can cause some irreparable damage to one’s body. I am not saying your mother-in-law is doing something to your child, but I’d keep an eye out.”
She started talking about how the human body could handle a certain level of these herbs at once.
‘Tolerance,’ she called it. She also added that for babies, this tolerance was almost non-existent. Maya couldn’t get home fast enough.
Back Home
Maya didn’t know whether Eleanor was feeding Emma those herbs while pretending to bathe her.
She prayed that wasn’t the case. But her motherly instincts were on overdrive as she burst through the front door of her house.
“Where is she?” she roared while marching into the house. Michael, who was lulling Emma in his arms, looked at her quizzically. “Where is who?” he asked. Maya was on the warpath.
What Eleanor Involved With?
Maya was going to confront her mother-in-law about what she had just learned from the herbalist.
What was she doing? To her, it felt like Eleanor was part of some cult, and now her innocent daughter was involved.
She didn’t know what Eleanor was involved with in her spare time, but she wasn’t going to let her precious daughter be exposed to such things.
Giving Her The Creeps
Maya’s heart pounded as she stormed through the house, her eyes scanning every corner.
She finally spotted her mother-in-law in the kitchen, humming a tune while preparing a bottle for Emma. The sight sent shivers down Maya’s spine.
Maya wondered if Eleanor had put some of the mysterious herbs in Emma’s bottle.
Not Now
But before she could do anything, her husband stopped her. “Not now, Maya. We just got Emma to sleep. Whatever you want to do, now is not the time,” Michael said.
Maya’s heart was beating very fast, and she was fired up and ready to give Eleanor a piece of her mind.
It wasn’t fair that Michael stopped her. If only he knew what was going on.
Going About Her Business
But she composed herself for the sake of their sleeping baby.
She knew how difficult it was to get Emma to sleep soundly until she woke up and demanded all of their attention again.
But the situation still bothered her, and it annoyed her that Eleanor was going about her day like she had done absolutely nothing wrong.
Heating Up
Maya felt her chest heat up with rage again as she saw her mother-in-law busy in the kitchen. She was so angry, and she wanted to know exactly what she was doing to her daughter.
She couldn’t wait anymore. But once again, her husband stopped her.
“What’s gotten into you? What happened? You look angry.” Maya had waited long enough.
Can She Tell Him?
“I need to talk to Mom,” Maya grated. “I just found out she’s been…”
She was about to spill everything she’d learned about the herbs when she first played the words in her mind.
Maya feared that Eleanor was doing something bad to her baby. But she stopped herself from uttering the words out loud. Such words, especially without any tangible proof, would doom the relationship she
More Proof Needed
Maya didn’t have enough proof that whatever her mother-in-law was doing to her daughter was wrong. She only had the little information the herbalist had offered.
It also didn’t help that the herbalist had given her a two-sided coin.
On one side, Eleanor’s herbs were good for Emma’s skin and hair growth. But on the other hand, they could severely harm her if ingested.
Which Route Did She Take?
Since Maya needed to figure out which route her mother-in-law had taken, she decided it would be best to take a step back. She needed more information to go on and would need to do more research before she started pointing fingers.
She decided to take the evening and night to research the herbs her mother-in-law was using.
She would compile a proper file of irrefutable evidence before accusing Eleanor. But before all this, Maya needed to do one thing.
An Evening Drive
Maya checked on Emma to make sure she was alright.
She took her in her arms, holding her tight before gently pecking her chubby cheeks. “We’re going for an evening drive,” she announced with a feigned nonchalance.
There was only one place where she could take her daughter now, and although it might have felt like an overreaction on her part, it was completely warranted.
The Emergency Room
Maya took her daughter to the emergency room. But she didn’t tell the nurses and doctors that her mother-in-law was possibly feeding her daughter dangerous herbs.
Instead, she said she’d been sorting through a few jars of old spices and herbs in her yard with her daughter sleeping by her side. But a sudden strong wind had blown by, carrying some of the herbs onto her daughter’s lips.
She was afraid a few might have trespassed into her system.
Not A Prank
The nurses and doctors looked at her quizzically before one of them reminded her that the emergency room wasn’t a place for pranks and jokes. But Maya was serious. “Please, check her,” she said.
A nurse asked her to follow her into another room, and Maya did.
With Emma in her arms, they went to a room with a baby incubator, among a few other hospital apparatus. “Place her there,” the nurse instructed.
Hey, Little One
Maya did as told, and a few minutes later, a doctor walked in. He spent a few minutes with Maya, asking about her baby’s health background, before turning his attention to Emma.
“Hey, little one,” he greeted her before pepping her a few tests.
Half an hour in, the doctor was done with his tests. But his findings would raise more questions than answers.
An Hour
It took an hour for the test results to be completed. The doctor stared at them for a second before looking at Emma and Maya. “Is everything okay?” Emma asked.
But the doctor didn’t ask. He leaned forward, his eyes squinting over his tablet’s screen.
“You said she ingested some of the herbs, which might be dangerous, right?” he asked, and Maya nodded.
Something’s Wrong
“I did. Is there something wrong, doctor?” The doctor took a deep breath and shook his head. “We’ve found some traces of the herbs in Emma’s stomach,” he said.
“But her body doesn’t seem to have any negative reaction toward them.”
“What?” Maya asked, moving closer so she could have a look at the results. The doctor tilted the screen her way.
The Results
“See here?” he asked, showing Maya the screen. A few words and numerals didn’t make sense to the mom. But she saw a few words that read ‘positive’ at the bottom of the screen.
Her blood boiled with anger. Yet her mind had more questions than before. Her daughter did indeed have the herbs in her system. This only meant one thing!
Maya didn’t even wait for the doctor to finish before she stormed off.
It’s In Her System
The fact that Emma had the herbs in her system meant one thing. Eleanor had been feeding her the dangerous substances. Maya almost screamed as she drove home. She didn’t even have time to put on her seatbelt.
Maya stormed into the house, finding Michael alone watching TV.
As before, the enraged mom demanded to see Eleanor. But the mother-in-law was nowhere to be seen.
Tears
But unlike the first time, Maya’s eyes were filled with tears. Her hands were shaking, and she couldn’t form coherent words.
On her drive home, she’d wondered what she’d do if she lost Emma.
Who would she blame? Would this be on her shoulders or her mother-in-law’s? “What’s wrong, honey?” Michael asked, concern written all over his face. “What’s with you and asking for Mom every time you come home?”
She Tells Him
Maya told Michael that she’d discovered the herbs his mom was using while bathing Emma.
But she didn’t mention her trip to the herbalist or emergency room.
She couldn’t mention what she’d learned even though it was eating her up inside. She’d never hidden things from Michael before, and doing this broke her heart. But she needed a little bit more proof before telling him everything.
Installing The Camera
While Michael and Emma were sound asleep that night, Maya installed a hidden nanny cam in the bathroom Eleanor usually bathed Emma in.
She hated doing this because, over the last few weeks, Eleanor had been coming here, and their relationship had felt genuine.
But this wasn’t the time for second thoughts. Emma’s life was at risk here. Maya needed to stay strong and see this through.
Eleanor Is Here
With the nanny cam installed behind some old shampoo bottles on the top shelf, Maya waited for things to unfold.
Like clockwork, Eleanor showed up the following morning, eager to spend some quality time with her granddaughter.
As was her habit, she took a few items from her bag and carried the baby into the bathroom. She had no idea that a worried Maya was already onto her.
Her Bathing Routine
Maya watched the footage on her phone when Eleanor returned to her house.
She watched as Eleanor prepared the bath correctly and placed Emma into the bubbly water.
She even talked to Emma lovingly as she did so, playing with her and making her laugh and giggle. But none of this cuteness did anything to lessen Maya’s worry.
In Chilling Clarity
But slowly and gradually, things started to get weird.
There, in chilling clarity, Maya saw Eleanor carefully and meticulously adding a few pinches of her select herbs into Emma’s bathing water while humming a haunting tune.
She swirled the herbs about, watching as the water tinged a milky white. Emma looked spooked by this odd behavior, showing signs of crying. But this was only the beginning.
It Gets Weird
Eleanor’s movements as she bathed Emma graduated into something peculiar. Her demeanor was anything but loving.
She was serious, mumbling things that the camera’s speaker couldn’t catch.
Although she didn’t show any signs of planning or wanting to feed Emma the bathing herbs, it was as if she was trying to assert some sort of control over the baby.
Watching In Horror
The show went on for a few minutes, and Maya watched in horror.
She’d had her issues with Eleanor before, but she’d never thought her mother-in-law would transfer those issues to Emma.
Maya couldn’t fathom why the woman would behave this way and needed answers. With her heart pounding, Maya rushed to Eleanor’s house to confront her about the disturbing footage.
Confronting Her
She found her mother-in-law in the garden, tending to her roses. Eleanor looked up, feigning innocence. Maya wasted no time, showing her the footage from the nanny cam.
Eleanor’s face turned ashen as she watched herself bathing Emma. She knew she had been caught, and the tension hung in the air.
“Why would you do this, Eleanor?” Maya finally asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and confusion.
Her Reason
Eleanor took a deep breath, her eyes filled with remorse.
She explained how, in her own twisted way, she believed that by taking over the baby’s care, she could prove her worth as a grandmother while also atoning for all the friction she’d caused in Maya’s life.
She thought that by constantly bathing Emma, she could somehow become indispensable in their lives. “I only wanted to help.”
Crocodile Tears?
“It hurts that you’d think I’d harm that baby,” she said. “I would give my life for her, okay?” Her eyes were steely, her chest moving up and down as she spoke.
Maya knew she only got like this when she was serious about something.
She looked her in the eye and said, “I took Emma to the emergency room. The doctor found traces of the herbs in her stomach.”
It’s Only Natural
Eleanor didn’t look surprised. “It’s only natural,” she said, her lips curling. “What?” Maya barked. “I know the herbs are dangerous when mixed and ingested!”
“That’s why I don’t mix them haphazardly,” Eleanor cut in.
“I know there’s usually a chance the child will ingest the water. I have recipes that I follow. Recipes as old as time, perfected and passed down through generations. I will never make herb combinations that might harm my grandchild!”
Eleanor’s Confession
Eleanor looked at Maya with remorse in her eyes. “I never meant to harm her,” she confessed, her voice quivering. “I was just trying to protect her.” Maya was taken aback by this unexpected response.
“Protect her from what?” she demanded.
Eleanor hesitated for a moment before she began to speak, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m just very superstitious. I always think something will happen to firstborn daughters.”
Superstitions
Maya stared at Eleanor, trying to process what she had just heard.
Protecting Emma from superstitions? It didn’t make any sense to her. She knew her mother-in-law had some odd beliefs, but this was beyond anything she could have imagined.
“Superstitions?” Maya repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. “Eleanor, you’ve been putting mysterious herbs in her bath. That’s not protection; that’s putting her in danger!”
Guilt
Eleanor’s face crumpled with guilt and sorrow. She began to explain her irrational fears and beliefs about curses and evil spirits that she supposedly heard whispers about at her church.
She recounted stories from her own childhood and how she had lost her own firstborn daughter to an unexpected illness, and how the same thing happened to her mom and aunt.
Maya’s anger started to fade, replaced by a mix of sympathy and concern for her mother-in-law’s mental state. She realized that Eleanor’s actions were rooted in deep-seated fear and superstition rather than malicious intent.
Getting Help
“What we need to do,” Maya said calmly, “is to get you some help. Emma deserves a loving grandmother, which you are. But you need to overcome these irrational fears. You can never do anything like this again.”
Eleanor knew she had overstepped the mark with her daughter-in-law.
When all the chips were laid down, she was, in fact, putting her granddaughter in harm’s way.
Promising The Seek Help
Eleanor nodded, tears streaming down her face.
She promised to seek therapy and counseling to address her superstitious beliefs and irrational fears. Maya knew it would take time for their relationship to heal, but she was willing to give Eleanor a chance to change.
But before that, she wanted to have a look at the footage once more. She wanted to see what she had done, even though she was immensely ashamed of her actions.
She Watches The Footage Again
Tears welled in her eyes as she admitted her insecurities and the pain she had caused Maya. It was a moment of vulnerability that neither of them had expected. Watching the video again, she gasped at how ominous she looked, saying she didn’t mean any harm.
However, she admitted that all this looked bad. “I could never dream of harming Emma,” she said.
Maya, overwhelmed by a rush of emotions, embraced Eleanor. She understood that sometimes, people acted out of fear and insecurity.
She Wants To Change
Eleanor had let these emotions guide her actions, but now she was willing to change. Over time, she and Maya worked on rebuilding their relationship.
They attended counseling together to address their underlying issues, and slowly, trust began to grow.
Eleanor realized that Maya wasn’t a threat but a loving mother who wanted the best for her child.
A Fresh Start
As months passed, the wounds of the past began to heal, and a new chapter unfolded for Maya, Eleanor, and their family.
The therapy sessions had worked wonders for Eleanor, helping her overcome her superstitions and irrational fears. Maya, on the other hand, had learned to forgive and let go of the resentment she had harbored.
Emma continued to grow, surrounded by the love and care of her parents and grandmother. The bond between the three generations strengthened, and Maya was grateful for the positive change in their lives.
A Lesson Learned?
The experience had taught Maya that sometimes, misunderstandings and conflicts could be rooted in deep-seated fears and insecurities.
It was a reminder to approach such situations with empathy and a willingness to understand the underlying causes.
She had also learned that family bonds could endure even the darkest of times if everyone involved was willing to work towards healing and forgiveness.
A Bright Future
With Eleanor’s commitment to therapy and a newfound sense of unity within the family, Maya and Michael felt hopeful about the future.
They had weathered a storm that had threatened to tear them apart but had emerged stronger than ever.
The love and support they provided for Emma created a stable and nurturing environment for her to thrive.
The Strength of Family
In the end, Maya realized that the strength of their family lay in their ability to overcome challenges together.
While their journey had been marked by turbulence and misunderstandings, it had ultimately brought them closer and deepened their appreciation for one another.
As they looked towards the future, they knew that they would face whatever obstacles came their way as a united and loving family.
A New Beginning
With a fresh start, Maya, Eleanor, and their family were ready to embrace the future with open hearts and minds.
The past was behind them, and they were determined to make the most of the precious moments they shared together.
In the end, they discovered that even in the darkest of times, there was always room for growth, forgiveness, and love.
Mending The Relationship
As Emma grew, she became the bridge that brought Maya and Eleanor closer together. The three generations of women spent countless hours playing, laughing, and creating cherished memories.
The love they shared for Emma transcended their past differences, and they learned to appreciate each other for who they were.
Years passed, and the once-turbulent relationship between Maya and Eleanor blossomed into a genuine friendship. They came to realize that family bonds could be mended through love, forgiveness, and understanding.