I Came Home to Find My Daughter Locked in a Dirty Attic — I Was Furious When I Learned Why My MIL Did It

When Misha and her husband, Greg, go away on business, they leave their daughter, Mia, with Gregs mother, Diane. Except, they dont understand the extent of Dianes ignorance regarding race. This time, she went too far with their mixed-race baby, Mia. What happens when Misha and Greg find out?

You know when you think you know someone, and then they do something so despicable that it knocks the wind right out of you?

That was exactly what happened with my mother-in-law, Diane. This isnt just a story about hurt feelings or misunderstandings. No. Its about someone revealing their true colors in the ugliest way possible.

A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney

Let me back up a little and tell you more about my family.

Im a black woman, married to Greg, my white husband. Together, we have a beautiful little girl named Mia, whos four years old. Shes got Gregs smile, but her curls and warm skin tone? All mine.

Naturally, Gregs family has been a little awkward concerning race. Especially his conservative mother. Little comments about my daughters hair or how shes “so tan” for a toddler always flew around. And theyd laugh it off, but it always rubbed me the wrong way.

A couple with their daughter | Source: Midjourney

I tried to ignore it. Theyre family, right?

And anyway, Greg has always stood up to his mother for us. So, thats always been something that I loved about him. He wouldnt let anyone disrespect Mia and me, not on his watch.

But I just assumed that Gregs family was ignorant.

“Theyre getting better with the idea of us, Misha,” Greg said one day as he made toasted sandwiches for us.

A man in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney

“Greg, weve been married for six years,” I said. “They should have gotten used to the idea a long time ago. Im okay with stupid comments from your mother, but I dont want Mia exposed to that.”

“I hear you, honey,” he said. “And Ill keep doing whatever I can to get my mother to understand how damaging it could be. I promise.”

I believed him. What else did I have to lose?

A woman sitting at a kitchen counter | Source: Midjourney

But what Diane did two weeks ago showed me that ignorance was the least of her sins.

Greg and I have a baked goods business, where we supply restaurants, cafés, and coffee shops with our cheesecakes. Recently, we were getting new places to carry our items and had to go out of town for a few days because we were meeting with potential new clients.

So, we asked Diane to babysit Mia. She agreed, but I could tell that my mother-in-law wasnt thrilled.

Cheesecakes on a counter | Source: Midjourney

“Sure, Misha,” she said. “But Mia cant come here. It needs to be at your place.”

“Yeah, thats not a problem, Diane,” I replied, grateful that my child couldnt be in Dianes house where she wasnt allowed to play as she wanted.

“Ill change the laundry in the guest room for you. Ill freshen it all up, dont you worry about a thing,” I said.

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

“And get Greg to get me my almond milk, Misha. I cant do that full-cream milk that you guys are bent on having.”

“Sure, Diane,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Anything else?”

“Ill text Greg,” she said stiffly. “And make sure the Pitbull is tied up before I get there. Someone else can feed him.”

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

And she cut the call.

Diane wasnt easy to manage, but we trusted her. I mean, shes Mias grandmother, after all. What would go wrong?

Everything, apparently.

Our trip got cut short, and we decided to surprise Diane and Mia by coming home a day early. Our meetings had gone well, and we were all set for new contracts.

A couple sitting in a car | Source: Midjourney

“We can finally build that fancy swing set for Mia,” Greg said excitedly in the car.

“We can do whatever we want, honey,” I said.

I couldnt wait to get back. I was so excited to see my baby girl. You know that feeling when youve been away from your child for even a few days? Your heart starts racing as the distance between you lessens, and all you want to do is squeeze them tight.

A little girl sitting on a swing | Source: Midjourney

But when we pulled into the driveway, something felt off.

“I cant wait to see my strawberry cheesecake,” Greg said, using his pet name for Mia.

The house was too quiet. Normally, youd hear Mia giggling, or Titan, our Pitbulls paws, thumping around, but there was nothing. Greg headed to the trunk to unload the bags, and I went around, hoping to see Mia playing with Titan.

A smiling man | Source: Midjourney

I dont know why, but I looked up to the side of the house, where I noticed a faint light coming from the attic window.

“What is that light on for?” I muttered to myself.

Let me tell you about our attic. Its not a place anyone goes, least of all a toddler. Its dusty, cramped, and full of old junk. We hadnt touched it in months.

A dusty attic | Source: Midjourney

So why was the light on?

I let myself into the house quietly, hoping I wouldnt run into Diane on my way to the attic. I wanted to see what was going on. I could hear voices from somewhere but assumed one of the TVs was on.

“She must be snooping,” I muttered to myself as I kicked off my shoes by the staircase so I wouldnt make a noise.

A pair of sneakers at the bottom of a staircase | Source: Midjourney

I climbed the stairs slowly, my stomach doing flips. As I reached the attic door, I heard a soft sound, like someone shifting in their sleep. My heart dropped as I opened the door and went up the three steps into the attic.

There she was.

Mia. My baby girl, lying on ratty old blankets in the middle of the dusty attic, sound asleep. My pulse quickened. Why was she here?

A little girl sleeping on a blanket in an attic | Source: Midjourney

“Mia,” I whispered, rushing to her side and shaking her gently. “Honey, wake up.”

She stirred, rubbing her eyes with her tiny fists, confused.

“What are you doing up here?” I asked. “You know that we dont come up to the attic. And youre not allowed to come up alone!”

My daughter blinked up at me, still half asleep.

A close up of a sleepy little girl | Source: Midjourney

“Grandma told me I cant show myself to her friends,” she said, her little voice growing steady as she shook off her sleep.

“What?” I asked.

Mia repeated it, this time a little clearer.

“Grandma said I had to stay up here because her friends would get scared if they saw me.”

A sleepy little girl | Source: Midjourney

I felt like Id been punched in the gut.

“What do you mean, scared?” I asked.

She shrugged like it was no big deal.

“She said they dont like girls who look like me…”

Thats when it hit me all at once. Diane, my own mother-in-law, the grandmother of my daughter, had invited her friends to my house and decided that my child should hide in the attic.

A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney

Because of her skin color.

I scooped Mia up and marched down the stairs. I dont even remember how I made it to the backyard, following the voices. But there Diane was, sitting on one of the outdoor couches.

She was laughing with a glass of wine in hand. Her friends were gathered around her, chatting like they were just having a good old time.

But it wasnt. Not by a long shot.

A group of women sitting outside drinking wine | Source: Midjourney

“Diane,” I snapped, storming into their little party. I didnt care that her friends were there. They needed to hear it all.

“Why isnt Mia part of your little party? Im sure your friends would have loved to meet your granddaughter.”

A few of the women shot glances at each other.

Dianes smile dropped. She looked like a deer caught in headlights.

A shocked older woman | Source: Midjourney

“Oh, uh, she was playing upstairs,” Diane said, glancing nervously at her friends.

“In the attic? On a dusty blanket?” I asked.

Diane didnt say anything.

“You locked my daughter in the attic because you were embarrassed by her? Because of her skin color?” I continued.

Her friends shifted awkwardly, avoiding eye contact.

A shocked older woman | Source: Midjourney

“I didnt lock her away! I thought she would be more comfortable upstairs!” Diane said. “I didnt think she would understand…”

“Understand what?” I shouted, cutting her off. “That her own grandmother is ashamed of her? That you cant stand the idea of your friends interacting with your granddaughter?”

Dianes mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. She knew she was caught, and her friends sure as hell knew it too.

An angry woman | Source: Midjourney

“Daddy!” Mia cried, suddenly seeing Greg behind us.

From the look on his face, I could tell that he had heard our entire conversation.

AdvertisementRead alsoRich Teen Laughs at Homeless until She Finds out Her Own Fate — Story of the DayMy MIL Decided to Announce Her Pregnancy at My Wedding & Spoil It — My Sister Took Stone-Cold Revenge on My BehalfAn Idea for a Funny Prank on Your Husband during a Long Drive

“Mom, I think you need to take your friends and leave,” he said. “Now.”

“But Greg,” Diane said. “Im hosting people. You really dont expect me to kick them out. I raised you with better manners than this!”

A shocked man | Source: Midjourney

“You did, but how could I listen to someone who treats my family this way? Mia is four, for goodness sake! And you shut her in the attic? The attic? Thats disgusting.”

One by one, Dianes friends got up and quickly made their way out of our house.

“How could you speak to me like this?” Diane asked Greg. “And in front of my friends?”

“Just go,” Greg said.

A side profile of a woman | Source: Midjourney

And she did.

But I wasnt done with Diane. She wasnt getting away with this.

The next day, I sat in my bed with a cup of tea and my laptop balanced on my lap. I went straight to Facebook, specifically our neighborhood group, for all the local moms who plan charity events and block parties.

And I put Diane on blast.

Everyone needed to know the truth.

A woman sitting in bed with her laptop | Source: Midjourney

My husband said that the fallout was immediate. He kept getting text messages from Diane. The neighborhood turned on her overnight. And apparently, she was removed from a few personal chats.

The perfect little world shed built for herself crumbled.

Diane tried calling me to apologize, but I didnt answer. I let her texts go unanswered, too.

As for Mia, shell never know what really happened that day. Ill make sure of it.

A smiling woman with her daughter | Source: Midjourney

If you enjoyed this story, youd love this one about a woman who discovered something on her wedding day. While toasting and cutting the wedding cake at their reception, Sylvie and Rob bask in the beauty of their day. Until the wedding cake reveals something strange inside. Only for Diane, Robs mother, to reveal more secrets.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

ShareAdvertisement