When Rebecca’s mother-in-law, Darlene, goes home to take away her grandchildren’s Christmas presents, she’s left absolutely speechless. Later, she and her husband, Mark, learn that Darlene did this because she wanted to teach the couple a lesson… but karma intervenes, making sure that the old woman feels the same way the kids felt.
I never thought that this would be a story I’d tell. I mean, toxic in-laws are practically their own genre, but what my mother-in-law, Darlene, did this Christmas left me completely speechless.
Honestly, I’m still in shock.
A woman looking to the side | Source: Midjourney
I’m Rebecca, a mom of three chaotic kids. There’s Caleb (7), Sadie (5), and little Mason (3). Christmas is a huge deal in our house and has been like this since I was a child. We go all out.
The tree, the decorations, and of course, the gifts. Usually, Darlene shows up with her arms full of presents for the kids, playing the part of the doting grandma for one day a year.
This time, though, Darlene really outdid herself. Caleb got the new LEGO set that he had been begging for, and Sadie’s eyes lit up over a princess castle playset. Mason, the little speed demon of the family, zoomed through the living room on an adorable ride-on toy.
A castle made out of LEGO blocks | Source: Midjourney
She even threw in stylish clothes for all three kids.
“They need to be photo-ready, Becca,” she told me. “And this way, they all match!”
It was… impressive. I’ll admit it freely.
The kids were ecstatic. They loved being the center of attention, and they played nonstop, showing off their gifts and parading around in their new clothes.
Three little kids | Source: Midjourney
I thought that maybe this was the year. This was the year that Darlene and I would finally hit a smooth patch in our relationship.
Spoiler alert: I was so wrong.
Two days after Christmas, the house was still glowing with holiday cheer. It wasn’t anything new—we usually kept the decorations up until a few days before New Year’s Eve. My kids were in their element, surrounded by the toys they loved.
I even sent Darlene a text, thanking her for the thoughtful presents.
A woman texting | Source: Midjourney
Hi, Darlene! Thank you for spoiling the babies so much this Christmas. You’re appreciated!
Then, the doorbell rang.
“Mom, will you get it?” Caleb asked, dangling a bunch of grapes above Mason’s head.
“On it,” I said. “Just watch that your brother doesn’t choke on a grape, okay?”
I opened the door to find Darlene standing there, gripping three large empty bags. Her face was bright red, and she looked ready to explode.
A little boy holding a bunch of grapes | Source: Midjourney
“Darlene, hi!” I said. “What’s going on?”
She didn’t say a word. She just marched right past me into the living room, where the kids were now playing with Sadie’s castle.
I stood frozen as she immediately began to scoop Caleb’s LEGO blocks into one of the bags. The ride-on toy was kicked to the side. And then Sadie’s castle went next.
An upset older woman | Source: Midjourney
“Where are the clothes I bought you?” she barked at Caleb.
“In the washing, Grandma,” he said.
“Bring it, now,” she shouted.
I was too shocked to retaliate.
Caleb ran to the bathroom and back with the clothes in his arms.
A washing basket | Source: Midjourney
“Grandma, what are you doing?” Caleb asked, his voice trembling.
Sadie’s lip quivered as she clutched her princess doll.
“Mommy, why is Grandma taking our things?” she asked.
I didn’t have an answer. I just stood there, my mind spinning, trying to process what I was witnessing.
An upset little girl | Source: Midjourney
But it was when Darlene picked up the ride-on toy, preventing Mason from getting onto it, that really set me off.
“Darlene, what the hell are you doing?” I demanded, finding my voice at last.
She didn’t even glance my way.
“You’ll regret what you did,” she muttered coldly, zipping the bags shut with finality.
An angry older woman | Source: Midjourney
And then, without another word, she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
The kids were devastated. Caleb cried for hours, asking why Grandma was mad. Sadie sat on the floor, clutching a stuffed animal like her world had just ended. And poor Mason kept wandering around the house, looking for his toy.
“Where did the car go, Mommy?” he asked.
An upset little boy | Source: Midjourney
I tried to comfort my children, but honestly, I didn’t know what to say. What had we done to deserve this? Why would Darlene take back the gifts she’d so generously given just a few days earlier?
When my husband, Mark, got home from work, I told him everything.
“She did what?” Mark’s face went beet red as he pulled out his phone. “Oh, hell no. This is unacceptable.”
He called her immediately. There was no answer. He texted his mother. No replies.
A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t understand, Bec,” he said. “How could she be so cold to take their toys away? And their clothes, for God’s sake. I’m so confused.”
“Tell me about it,” I said. “I didn’t know how to react when she stormed around doing whatever she wanted. It was insanity. You should have seen their faces, Mark.”
Darlene had gone completely radio silent, leaving us in the dark about what had triggered this insane stunt.
A man holding his head | Source: Midjourney
Three days later, Mark finally got her on the phone.
I could tell from his side of the conversation that whatever she was saying was absurd. He kept rubbing his temples and muttering under his breath.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he sighed.
When he hung up, he looked at me with disbelief.
A man holding his head | Source: Midjourney
“You’ll never believe it,” he said.
“What? Believe what?” I asked.
“She’s mad about her Christmas gift,” he said.
“What?” I repeated.
A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney
“Apparently, she was expecting that expensive designer handbag she’s been hinting about all year. Instead, we got her a $250 gift card to her favorite store. It was unacceptable, according to her.”
I stared at my husband, completely lost for words.
“So, she took away the kids’ gifts because of that? What on earth is wrong with her?”
A store gift card | Source: Midjourney
Mark nodded slowly, still processing the absurdity himself.
“Yeah, she said that we disrespected her with the gift card and gave us a few days to make it right. Since we didn’t, she took the kids’ presents to teach us a lesson.”
I was floored.
“You’ve got to be kidding me, Mark,” I said.
A woman holding her head | Source: Midjourney
“Nope,” he sighed again. “She took the kids’ Christmas gifts away over a damn handbag.”
We were furious, but we weren’t about to let Darlene’s tantrum ruin Christmas for our kids. That weekend, we dipped into our savings and bought replacements for the toys she took.
It wasn’t easy on our budget, but seeing the kids’ faces light up again made every penny worth it.
But Darlene?
Three smiling children | Source: Midjourney
Karma had other plans for the old woman.
A few days later, Mark’s cousin, Abby, called with some unexpected news.
I was in the kitchen, grilling chicken and vegetables for dinner, while Mark was going through Caleb’s holiday homework.
“Did you hear what your mom did?” she asked, practically choking with laughter.
A platter of grilled chicken and vegetables | Source: Midjourney
“Oh yeah,” Mark muttered. “We know all about her behavior. Why’s it funny to you?”
“Well, apparently, she’s been bragging to the family about how she taught you guys a lesson. But one of her friends, the one who’s super involved with that charity, found out.”
“Charity? Abby, what are you talking about?” Mark asked.
“Uh-oh,” I said, uncertain of where the conversation was going.
A woman talking on the phone and laughing | Source: Midjourney
“Yeah, so her friend was horrified at what Darlene did. The things that she took from the kids? She donated them to a charity. Dirty clothes and all! Word has spread fast, and now people are distancing themselves from her. Big time.”
Mark raised an eyebrow and looked at me.
“So, what? People are icing her out?”
Donation boxes at a charity shelter | Source: Midjourney
“They are, but that’s not the best part!” Abby said.
“Then what is the best part?” I asked.
“Oh, Becs,” she laughed. “Lovely Aunt Darlene has been uninvited from the New Year’s Eve gala. You know, the one she brags about all year? Her favorite event of the year? Yep. All gone!”
A man talking on a phone | Source: Midjourney
Mark and I exchanged glances. Darlene loved that gala more than anything. It was the ultimate social slap in the face. And she would have probably been planning her outfit since October.
Abby cut the call, still laughing to herself.
“She’s going to be so upset,” I said, slicing a lemon.
Lemons on a board | Source: Midjourney
“Serves her right,” my husband said. “She deserves this. She’s full of nonsense. And she donated the kids’ clothes just like that? She didn’t even wash it! What the hell, Becca?!”
“Let’s just have dinner with the kids and leave Darlene for the night,” I said.
A week later, Darlene called Mark, desperate for sympathy.
“They’ve all turned against me,” she sobbed. “I don’t understand what I did wrong!”
An upset older woman | Source: Midjourney
Mark didn’t miss a beat.
“Mom, you took all your grandkids’ Christmas presents because you didn’t get a handbag. Now you’re paying the price for being petty.”
She tried to apologize, but Mark wasn’t having it.
“If you want a relationship with my wife and children, you have a lot to make up for. And my kids are incredible. It’s your loss, Ma.”
Three smiling children | Source: Midjourney
In the end, we spoke to our children, explaining to them that their grandmother was angry with us, not them.
“She just wanted to teach Mom and me a lesson,” Mark said. “You guys did nothing wrong.”
“Are you sure?” Sadie asked, her lower lip jutting out.
A smiling man standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney
“Yes, I promise!” I said. “And this isn’t how we teach lessons. Dad and I will never take away something you love just to punish another person.”
“If we’re naughty, we get a timeout until we learn our lesson, right?” Caleb chimed in.
“Exactly, buddy,” Mark said. “Now, come on, let’s all get some ice cream cones.”
Ice cream cones | Source: Midjourney
That’s how one handbag led to a family falling out, a Christmas nearly ruined, and a grandmother learning the hard way that karma never misses.
And honestly? We’re in no rush to forgive.
Trust me, Darlene’s next holiday season won’t be quite as merry and bright.
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
If you’ve enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |
My Son Stays Quiet as His Wife Insults Me — But He Soon Teaches Her a Lesson in Front of Guests
Kate cannot wait to spend the holidays with her son and his wife. It’s her first Christmas with the family, and Kate needs to see how she fits. But when Liz criticizes her cooking, and John chooses silence over defending his mother, will the holidays be ruined?
Cooking was always my way of showing love. From the moment I got married, I became the “one who feeds everyone.” Every family dinner, every major holiday, especially Christmas, revolved around me in the kitchen, making meals from scratch.
It wasn’t just about the food. It was about creating something special that brought us together.
A smiling older woman | Source: Midjourney
But when Oliver, my husband, passed away a few years ago, the joy of cooking died with him.
Now, I only cook for myself, enough to get by. But Christmas is different. Christmas is when my son, John, comes home. He’s the reason I still dust off my old recipes, roll up my sleeves, and get to work in the kitchen.
His love for my Christmas dinners has always been special to me. A kind of pride, I guess. This year, though, something was different.
A smiling older man | Source: Midjourney
And not in a good way.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Woman’s One Day Away Becomes a Mother’s Worst Fear After a Call from School — Story of the Day
Mary juggled everything at home while her husband, George, stayed hands-off. Fed up, she decided to take a day for herself, leaving their daughter in his care. But as she relaxed by the ocean, her phone lit up with missed calls from the school. Now, fear set in—what happened while she was away?
Mary stood in the kitchen, moving frantically as she tried to make breakfast. She glanced at the clock and groaned. She had overslept again. Meanwhile, George was still snoring loudly upstairs.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
She flipped the toast out of the toaster, only to see that it was burnt. “Ugh!” she muttered, tossing it aside. Without slowing down, she cracked eggs into the pan, but in her hurry, they burned just like the toast.
Suddenly, her alarm blared again, making her jump. “Oh, come on!” she cried, and in the confusion, she knocked over her cup of coffee.
The hot liquid splashed onto her arm, stinging her skin. “Damn it!” she yelped, grabbing a towel to wipe off the mess.
With no time to waste, she rushed to Missy’s room. She sat on the edge of the bed, gently shaking her daughter awake. “Missy, honey, it’s time to get up,” she said softly. Missy groaned, rolling over and pulling the blanket over her head.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary lifted the still half-asleep Missy and carried her to the bathroom. As she helped Missy wash her face and brush her teeth, she glanced at herself in the mirror. Her hair was wild, her pajamas were wrinkled, and a big coffee stain covered her shirt.
She carried Missy down the hall, heading toward the bedroom. She pushed the door open with her foot and saw George sprawled out on the bed, snoring softly.
“George, I’m running late. Missy’s going to be late for school. Can you help me, please?” Her voice was almost pleading.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
George grunted and rolled to his side, burying his face in the pillow. “Five more minutes,” he mumbled.
Mary sighed and hurried back downstairs, Missy clinging to her. She set Missy down at the table, grabbed a box of cereal, and poured it into a bowl, adding milk.
“I don’t want this!” Missy whined, pushing the bowl away.
Mary took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “What do you want, sweetheart?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Pancakes!”
Mary glanced at the time. She was almost out of it. “George!” she shouted toward the stairs. “I really need your help! Get Missy dressed!”
Silence. Not a single sound came from George.
Gritting her teeth, Mary grabbed the pancake mix and began braiding Missy’s hair as the batter sizzled in the pan.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
George finally strolled into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. His gaze landed on the stove. “Oh! Pancakes!” he said with a smile, sitting at the table. Without a care in the world, he grabbed a fork and began eating.
Mary glanced at him, her hands busy packing Missy’s lunch. Her shoulders ached from rushing around all morning, but she kept quiet.
“Did you forget to grab my morning paper?” George asked between bites.
Something inside Mary snapped. The words hit her like a slap. “Your paper?!” she yelled. “Why don’t you get it yourself? I’ve been running around like a maniac this morning getting Missy ready for school! I asked you to help! You didn’t even try!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
George blinked, looking confused. “But I work, and you’re a stay-at-home mom…”
Mary cut him off. “You’re on vacation!” she screamed. “You know what? I’ve had enough! I’m taking the day off. You’re dropping Missy off and picking her up from school. You’re watching her all day. I need a break!”
George scratched his head, frowning. “I thought she still went to kindergarten.”
“Aaagh!” Mary shouted, storming out of the kitchen. She raced upstairs to the bathroom, slamming the door and locking it behind her.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary stood in the bathroom, listening to the faint sound of George and Missy leaving. The front door clicked shut, and for a moment, there was silence.
She let out a long breath. Slowly, she turned on the shower, letting the hot water wash over her. It felt good, soothing her frayed nerves.
Afterward, she got dressed in comfortable clothes, grabbed a small bag, and packed a few essentials—her wallet, a book, and some snacks.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
She walked out of the house, locking the door behind her. Climbing into the car, she started the engine and drove toward the ocean, craving a peaceful escape.
Mary stretched out on the warm sand, feeling the sun on her skin. The sound of the waves calmed her, washing away the morning’s stress. She swam in the cool water, floated on her back, and felt a rare sense of peace. For once, she left her phone buried in her bag.
After a while, she sat up and reached for her phone, thinking it was time to check in. As she turned on the screen, her heart skipped a beat. There were over ten missed calls from the school. Something was wrong.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary’s hands shook as she dialed the school’s number. When someone finally answered, she could barely keep her voice steady.
“Hello? You called? Is something wrong?” Mary asked, her voice trembling.
“Yes, Mrs. Johnson,” replied an elderly woman on the other end. “Missy has gone missing. She went outside during recess and didn’t come back.”
Mary’s stomach dropped. “What do you mean? How could she not return?” she almost shouted, her fear rising.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“We tried reaching you and your husband, but we couldn’t get through.”
Mary felt like the world was spinning. “How could you let this happen?!” she screamed.
“Please, Mrs. Johnson, calm down,” the woman said gently. “We’re doing everything we can to find her.”
“How can you say that?!” Mary yelled. “You don’t know what’s happened to her!” Her voice cracked as she spoke. Without waiting for a reply, she hung up, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
She dialed George’s number, throwing clothes into her bag. When he answered, she didn’t waste a second.
“Where are you?!” she screamed into the phone, her voice filled with panic.
“I’m with the police,” George replied. “I’m giving them information about Missy.”
Mary froze for a moment, trying to calm her racing heart. For once, George was stepping up, actually doing something for their daughter.
“But I was told the school couldn’t reach you,” Mary said.
“Yeah… I was at the bar with a colleague, but I saw the missed calls and called them back right away,” George replied, sounding guilty.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“All right,” she managed to say, her voice steadier now. “I’m on my way.” She hung up, grabbed her keys, and rushed to the car.
She jumped into the car, her hands trembling as she fumbled with the keys. The engine roared to life, and she sped out of the parking lot. Her heart pounded in her chest as she weaved through traffic, ignoring the honks and angry shouts from other drivers.
She gripped the wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. Tears blurred her vision, but she blinked them away, focusing on the road ahead.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Finally, she skidded to a stop in front of the school. Barely shutting the car door, she rushed inside. The teachers and staff crowded around her, their faces filled with worry.
“Missy didn’t come back to class after recess,” one of them explained. “We’ve been searching everywhere.”
Mary didn’t wait to hear more. She darted down the hallways, calling out Missy’s name. She checked every bathroom, looked under tables in classrooms, peeked behind doors, her desperation growing with each step.
“Missy! Where are you?” she cried. She started to feel dizzy, her breaths coming in short gasps. Her mind screamed, This is my fault! I should have never left her with George!
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary sat on the school steps, burying her face in her hands. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her body shook with quiet sobs. She felt helpless. Missy was still missing, and she didn’t know what to do.
Suddenly, her phone rang. She jumped, quickly wiping her eyes. It was George. Her hands trembled as she answered.
“What… what’s the police saying?” she stammered, her voice breaking.
“I found her,” George said, his voice steady.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary froze. “You… you found her?” she whispered, hardly believing it.
“Yes, we’re at the park. Come here now,” George replied.
Mary leaped up and sprinted to the park, her heart pounding. When she spotted George and Missy sitting on a bench, relief flooded over her. She ran toward them, dropping to her knees as she wrapped her arms around Missy. Tears spilled down her face, soaking Missy’s hair.
“Sweetie, what happened?” Mary asked, holding Missy close.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Missy looked up, her eyes wide. “Dad said we’d go for a walk later. I got tired at school, so I came to the park,” she said, her voice small.
Mary turned to George, shooting him a furious glance. He shifted his gaze to the ground, guilt written all over his face.
“Sweetheart, you can’t just leave school like that,” Mary said, her voice trembling. “We were so scared. We didn’t know where you were.”
Missy frowned. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again,” she said. “I just wanted to walk with Dad.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary sighed, feeling the weight of her daughter’s words. She squeezed Missy’s hand. “All right, let’s go home,” she whispered.
On the drive home, the car was quiet. Missy had fallen asleep in the backseat, her head resting against the window. Mary gripped the steering wheel, her mind racing.
She wanted to scream at George, to shout about how careless he’d been, how he’d ignored their child for so long. But before she could open her mouth, George broke the silence.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary glanced at him, her eyes hard. “Sorry isn’t enough,” she replied, her tone sharp. “Our daughter could have been hurt today. Do you get that?”
George nodded, looking down at his hands. “I know,” he admitted. “I haven’t been the best father.”
Mary shook her head, anger bubbling up again. “It took her going missing for you to realize that? Really?”
George took a deep breath and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small piece of paper and handed it to her. Confused, Mary glanced down. It was a cruise ticket.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What’s this?” she asked, still angry but now curious.
“You deserve a break,” George said, his voice steady. “After you left this morning, I saw the burnt eggs, the cereal, the pancakes. You made three breakfasts in one morning. And that’s only a small part of what you do every day. I’m sorry I didn’t see it before or appreciate you.”
Mary looked at the ticket, then back at George. “And who’s going to look after Missy?” she questioned.
“I will,” he answered, meeting her eyes. “I’m her father. It’s time I started acting like one.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Mary pulled into the driveway and parked. She turned to George, her eyes softening. Slowly, she leaned over and hugged him, letting the tears flow.
“I’ll do better,” George promised, holding her tight. Mary nodded, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. Finally, he understood.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
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