My MIL Let My Child Wander Outside Alone — Her Excuse Was Terrifying

Family & kids
2 weeks ago

Many parents find themselves in the situation where they try to balance family dynamics with their own parenting choices. Here’s what we can learn from parents like our reader about navigating tricky generational differences—and keeping family bonds intact.

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Three weeks ago, Emma dropped her son Noah off with his grandmother, Sheila, as usual. Since both Emma and her husband work full-time, they’d agreed Sheila would watch three-year-old Noah a few days a week to help with daycare costs and give her more “grandma time.” She, however, had her own, very "old-school" parenting ideas, which had caused some tension before—but Emma tried to stay understanding.

That morning, when Emma asked Sheila about their plans, she vaguely mentioned maybe going to the park or playing outside. Mom asked her to let her know if they went anywhere, but MIL just gave a dismissive smile, which Emma chose to brush off.

Emma rushed over to Noah, careful not to alarm him, and gently brought him back inside. She then found Sheila calmly folding laundry in the living room. Sheila didn’t look surprised at all; instead, she greeted Emma with a smug smile, as if she’d been expecting this all along.

Emma asked, "What if Noah had wandered into the street?" Sheila shrugged, saying, "Kids have to learn," and "Better he finds his way now than grow up scared."

Emma was speechless. She grabbed Noah and left. That night, she told Ben, expecting him to be shocked, but he just sighed, saying, "She’s old-fashioned, but she’d never let him get hurt." Sheila still insists she’s right and hasn’t apologized.

Emma’s considering daycare, even if it causes fallout, but she can’t shake the fear of what could’ve happened. Is she overreacting, or is she the only one seeing the danger?

When you disagree with your parents on raising your kids.

A survey of 2,016 parents with children under 18 revealed that discipline was the biggest point of disagreement between parents and grandparents. 40% of parents felt grandparents were too lenient, while 14% thought they were too strict. While this can be frustrating, it can also have serious consequences. What really stood out, though, was that one in seven parents limited the time their child spent with certain grandparents.

Raising kids is tough, and it helps to have support. However, the key takeaway is that the parents have the final say on how to raise their child based on their own values and needs in the current time. Advice from grandparents is valuable, and their involvement can benefit a child’s development. But, according to experts, grandparents should aim to understand and respect the parenting choices of the parents to avoid escalating conflict.

We would be happy to hear about how you solve conflicts with your in-laws.

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