Jennifer’s heart races as she finds her son Alex sobbing at her mother-in-law Margaret’s house. Margaret claims to teach Alex gratitude by throwing away his beloved toys, but Jennifer knows there’s a better way. Determined to make her point, Jennifer plans a lesson Margaret will never forget.
“I always felt anxious before these visits because Margaret had a way of making me feel like I was doing everything wrong,” Jennifer reflects.
At Margaret’s house, Jennifer finds Alex in tears. Margaret defends her actions, saying, “He needs to learn respect and gratitude, Jennifer. I threw away his toys to teach him a lesson.”
Jennifer, angered, decides to teach Margaret a lesson. She packs all of Margaret’s everyday dinnerware, leaving only her precious fine china. “You threw away Alex’s toys to teach him a lesson, so I’m going to teach you something important too!” she says.
Days later, Margaret arrives at Jennifer’s door with Alex’s toys, admitting, “I realize now that just because something isn’t used often doesn’t mean it isn’t cherished.”
Jennifer replies, “We have to teach through love and patience, not through taking things away.”
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