My MIL Ruined Our Daughter’s Tiny Kitchen ‘For Her Own Good’ – We Taught Her Actions Have Consequences

My husband Simon and I have a five-year-old daughter, Hope, and I’m six months pregnant. We believe in giving Hope autonomy, even when it comes to food, so we set up a tiny kitchen where she could grab snacks, make fruit salads, and “cook” with us. It kept her engaged and taught her balance.

But Simon’s mother, Eleanor, strongly disagreed. She thought letting Hope eat whenever she wanted would spoil her. When she stayed with us, she took snacks from Hope, tried forcing her to eat fish, and even threw out her mini kitchen when Hope resisted. The result? Tears, chaos, and a ruined kitchen.

Simon and I confronted Eleanor. “You’ve crossed a line. This isn’t your decision,” I said. Simon added, “If you can’t respect our parenting choices, you can’t stay here.” Eleanor left angrily, but we documented everything she destroyed and sent her the receipts.

Despite the tension, we focused on Hope. “We’ll get a new kitchen, one no one can take away,” I promised. That night, as we tucked her in, Simon and I felt united. No matter what, we would protect our children and stand by our parenting choices.