As a mother, I’ve always believed in giving my children the space to make their own decisions. But recently, a situation with my daughter, Susan, has left me questioning whether I overstepped my boundaries. You see, I’m not dealing with teenagers anymore – I’m a sixty-two-year-old mother of three adults.

Susan’s marriage to Stan seemed perfect on the surface. He was a rich, handsome, and well-educated man, the kind of guy most parents would be thrilled to have as a son-in-law. But during a family dinner, things took a strange turn. Stan demanded that Susan prepare his plate, even though everything was within his reach. He even went as far as calling her stupid for not understanding his preferences. I was shocked and appalled.

But it didn’t stop there. I later learned that Stan had been treating Susan poorly at home as well. He controlled what she wore, tracked her every move, criticized her choices, and made it clear that he considered himself the ultimate authority in their family. This behavior was escalating, and Susan was too afraid to speak up because Stan threatened to cut her and their son off financially.

As a mother, it broke my heart to see my daughter being diminished in this way. I knew I had to do something. So, I took Susan aside, away from Stan’s prying eyes, and gave her a safe space to talk. She opened up about the extent of his control and how it was affecting her professional life as well. Stan wanted her to cut back on her hours at work, claiming it was more important for her to be with their son during his toddler years.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Susan had fought hard for her career and independence, and I wasn’t about to let Stan take that away from her. We discussed options like counseling and legal advice, but after careful consideration, we both agreed that divorce was the best course of action for her well-being and happiness.

It wasn’t an easy decision for Susan to make. Ending a marriage is never easy. But she realized that staying in a toxic relationship would only harm her and her son in the long run. Stan had shown little interest in being a father to Gabriel, even going as far as saying he would only bond with him when he learned to throw a ball. Who says that?

Now, Susan is gaining the strength to confront the reality of her marriage. With our support, she is taking steps towards a better future for herself and her son. But deep down, I still question if I crossed a line by encouraging her to divorce Stan. Was it too much for a mother to do? All I wanted was what was best for my daughter and grandson.

What would you have done in my shoes?