At five weeks postpartum, I was exhausted but tightly bonded with my baby. When my husband Juan said his mother wanted a full day alone with the baby, I hesitated. He accused me of selfishness, insisting Ruth just wanted “grandma time.” But my baby was exclusively breastfed and had never been separated from me.
The pressure intensified. Ruth called, demanding I start bottle feeding before her visit, speaking sharply. When I raised concerns, she called me clingy and unstable. Juan defended her, not me. Eventually, doubting myself, I relented.
That night, I overheard Juan on the phone saying, “Once you have him, she won’t know where to find him. Martindale is perfect.” My blood ran cold. They planned to take my son away permanently. I recorded the conversation.
By morning, I gathered my children and went to a lawyer. I filed for an emergency restraining order and divorce. Ruth never got her day alone. My son remains safe with me.
