Anna lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to calm her racing heartbeat.
Just a few minutes ago, she had experienced one of the most terrifying moments of her life — a conflict with her own husband, Alexander, and his mother, Olga Petrovna.
Their little daughter Sonya was sleeping peacefully in her crib, unaware of the chaos raging around her.
Three days ago, Anna had returned home from the maternity hospital after a difficult birth. She felt very tired both physically and emotionally but knew she now had to care for her newborn daughter.
The mother-in-law came the next day, promising to help the young mother cope with the first difficulties.
“Rest,” she told Anna with a gentle smile. “I’ll watch the baby.”
The daughter-in-law was grateful for the offer, as she really needed a rest.
However, she had no idea how far this seemingly selfless help would go…
When the young mother woke up, the first thing she did was look at the clock. It had already been two hours since Olga Petrovna had taken the baby out for a walk.
Why so long?
Finally, the door opened, and the mother-in-law entered the room holding Sonya in her arms. Anna hurried to the stroller to check if the baby was alright, and then something surprising caught her attention: in the tiny ears of the little girl sparkled two delicate earrings.
“What is this?!” the daughter-in-law exclaimed, barely holding back tears.
Olga Petrovna shrugged in bewilderment:
“Well, we were out walking, stopped by a salon… I decided to give the little beauty a gift.”
Anna felt blood rush to her face. Her heart pounded wildly, and her breathing became heavy.
“She’s only a week old!” she almost shouted. “Do you even understand what you’re doing?!”
But the mother-in-law just rolled her eyes and waved her hand:
“Oh, come on, dear. We did this with all our girls. Nothing terrible!”
That last remark completely broke Anna’s composure. She grabbed the baby and headed for the door:
“Leave immediately! I don’t need your help anymore!”
Olga Petrovna looked at her angry daughter-in-law in confusion. Not wanting to argue, she silently left the apartment.
Alexander came home late in the evening, exhausted after a long workday.
When he saw his wife sitting in the living room with a worried expression, he immediately realized something serious had happened.
“What happened?” Alexander asked cautiously.
Anna got up to meet her husband, her eyes shining with tears.
“Your mother pierced our daughter’s ears,” she whispered, trying to speak quietly so as not to wake the baby.
“Mom? Why did she do that?” the man frowned.
“Because she wanted to,” Anna replied sharply. “Without my consent, without your permission. She just decided on her own.”
The husband faltered, not knowing what to say. Finally, he said:
“Mom has spent her whole life raising children. She’s experienced…”
Those words hit the wife hard. She took a deep breath, trying to remain calm before her husband, though inside she was boiling with anger and fear for the newborn’s health.
“Alexander, listen to me carefully,” Anna began, her voice trembling with emotion. “Right now, our daughter is only one week old. Her body is extremely vulnerable. Her immune system is not yet formed, and any intervention, especially such a radical one as ear piercing, can have catastrophic consequences.”
The woman paused, gathering her thoughts, then continued:
“Infections, metal allergies, possible inflammations and complications… Do you realize what risks your mother’s action involved? If she had thought about it, she would understand how dangerous it is!”
Anna tried to speak calmly despite her inner anxiety.
“You know,” she added, seeing her husband’s confusion, “in the future, when Sonya grows up a bit and can understand and choose her own jewelry, then yes, we can discuss this together. But right now, we need to protect her health and avoid any reckless actions.”
“You’re talking as if my mother is a monster, not a mother! Nothing will happen to Sonya, you’re exaggerating everything,” Alexander suddenly declared.
“So, you’re taking her side?” the wife asked quietly but firmly.
“Why are you making a mountain out of a molehill? Mom gave our granddaughter this gift with all her heart, and you’re reacting so strongly. Let’s not talk about this anymore. Better to visit her this weekend and thank her for the gift,” the husband said calmly and went to the kitchen.
Anna stood in the middle of the room, watching Alexander go with a disappointed look.
She had hoped for support and understanding but instead met judgment and indifference.
A few hours later, when the house fell silent, the young mother reflected on her future.
The life she had been building with the person she loved suddenly seemed like a fragile illusion.
She remembered the happy moments of their life together, dreams of a bright future, plans for raising children.
But reality turned out harsh: her husband chose to support his own mother, ignoring his wife’s feelings and concern for the newborn’s safety.
“What will happen next?” Anna asked herself, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Her eyes were dry, her thoughts confused. Her only desire was to protect little Sonya from possible risks.
Finally deciding to speak honestly with her husband, Anna waited until the next morning.
They met in the kitchen, each busy with their own affairs. When the wife invited Alexander to discuss what had happened, he replied coldly and distantly:
“I think your reaction is excessive. Mom wanted to please our daughter, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Anna bit her lip, restraining sharp words:
“I think it’s important that you understand my worries. My main concern now is our child’s safety. Is that wrong?”
The husband shrugged:
“Maybe your fears are exaggerated. It would be much better if you gave my mother a chance to express her love for her granddaughter.”
Anna’s breath caught. Her pain turned to determination to end a relationship broken by mistrust and lack of understanding.
“Listen,” she said firmly, looking Alexander straight in the eyes. “In the past few days, I realized one important thing: our views on raising and caring for the child are fundamentally different. It seems our values are so different that living together has become impossible.”
“What are you saying? You want to separate?” the husband froze, stunned by his wife’s words.
The woman nodded slowly, realizing she was making an important decision:
“Unfortunately, yes. I feel I can no longer trust you or rely on you as a partner. We both need to think about the consequences of our decisions, but my position is firm.”
Alexander stood motionless like a statue. His face showed a mix of confusion and anger. A few seconds of silence were followed by an outburst:
“This is absurd! How can you destroy a family over one small incident?”
But Anna remained unwavering:
“This incident, as you call it, was the last straw. For a long time, I endured your mother’s dissatisfaction and constant pressure from her. But now it’s about our child, and I am ready to fight for her well-being at any cost.”
Alexander sighed heavily, realizing their marriage was falling apart and attempts at reconciliation seemed pointless.
The conversation dragged on late into the night, filled with mutual accusations and reproaches. Each tried to prove they were right, but no one wanted to yield.
Finally, the next morning, Anna told her husband she had filed for divorce through the government portal.
Her face was calm, but her eyes revealed despair and exhaustion. The husband silently listened, his heart breaking with pain and resentment.
A month later, the court session took place. The judge listened to both sides, weighed the arguments, and rendered a verdict: the divorce would be granted in Anna’s favor.
The child would stay with the mother, the father would have visitation rights according to a specified schedule.
Alexander left the courtroom empty and dejected. He felt defeated, deprived of the most precious things — love and support of close people.
Yet deep inside, a hope remained that one day they could restore their broken relationship for the sake of their daughter.
