Suddenly, my mother-in-law came closer, took the doll from my daughter’s hands, and calmly placed it into a clear plastic bag. Then she added a few more gifts.

— Grandma, why are you taking my presents? — my daughter asked, her voice trembling. — It’s my birthday today!
— It’s fine, mommy and daddy will buy you more, — she said dismissively. — My other granddaughter doesn’t have anything like this.

That “other granddaughter” was her older daughter’s child, who lived in another city. And to be honest, they lacked nothing — they had expensive toys, beautiful clothes, even a brand-new tablet.

I felt anger rising inside me. My patience was gone, and I did something I have never regretted. 😲🫣 Continued in the first comment 👇👇

— You have no right to take my child’s presents, — I said quietly but firmly. — If you want to make your other granddaughter happy, buy her something yourself.

My mother-in-law turned around and, without saying a word, slapped me across the face.
A sharp, cold slap that hung in the air like an icy drop.

I didn’t cry. I straightened up, looked her in the eyes, and said:
— That’s enough.

I walked over, took the bag of gifts, and handed it back to my daughter.

— These are yours, sweetheart. No one has the right to touch them.

Then I calmly closed the door and called my husband:
— Come home. Now.

When he came in and saw us — our daughter crying and me with a red cheek — no words were needed.

My mother-in-law tried to justify herself: “I only wanted what’s best,” but he interrupted sharply:
— What’s best is not dividing children into ‘mine’ and ‘the others’.

Since that day, she has never come to our home uninvited again.
And my daughter still keeps that doll — as a reminder of the day her mother truly protected her for the first time.