Busy Toddler
Even though she warned him not to lock the door, he did so anyway. Toddlers are so full of energy that it is difficult to keep up with them.
She felt small begging her child to open the door. Is there a reason why he has been disobedient over the last few weeks? Her control over him was slipping away.
Weekend Visits
A loving but tentative mother, Maria Jude was a wonderful role model. Keeping an eye out for any signs of distress or unusual behavior, she had been vigilant about her son's well-being since he turned four.
Immediately after Kyle returned to Maria's house from a weekend stay at his grandma's house in Redbush California, her maternal instincts went into overdrive.
Since He Came Back From Grandma
Maria Jude, 40, was naturally a tentative mother. It worried her every time Kyle's behavior changed or quirked. His personality was softer than those of his peers, regardless of his age.
She couldn't help but worry when Kyle returned from a weekend at his grandma's and spent hours locked in the bathroom. At first, she brushed it off as a phase, but as Kyle's bathroom retreats grew longer, her anxiety grew.
Boys Will Be Boys
Maria initially tried to rationalize Kyle's behavior. As he explored the wonders of the bathroom in his own little way, perhaps he was simply enjoying his newfound independence.
It is said that 'boys will be boys'. Maria's concern deepened as the days passed and Kyle's bathroom marathons continued. The development of her son felt important to her, but she was missing something.
Maria could hear the steady stream of water flowing from the tap each time she approached the bathroom door, sometimes for hours on end. Interestingly, it happened right before she was about to fetch him from her mother-in-law's house.
After gently knocking, she would inquire about Kyle's condition, only to receive muffled answers and tearful requests for privacy. He seemed to be hiding something from her, as if he didn't want her to see or she might not understand.
Hours On End
The worry in Maria Jude's heart pounded as she paced back and forth in front of the bathroom door. The sound of running water had continued for over an hour after Kyle had disappeared into the bathroom.
It wasn't the first time he had exhibited such behavior since returning from his weekend stay with his grandma, but he had certainly been locked away there for the longest period of time. Why was he in there?
Running Water
Maria couldn't contain her worry any longer after Kyle had been in the bathroom for what seemed like an eternity. Knocking gently on the door, her heart pounded. Her voice was laced with concern as she called out, "Kyle, are you okay in there?"
Only the sound of running water broke the silence. In a muffled voice, Kyle's voice was tinged with anxiety. Over the rush of water, he said, "I'm busy, Mommy. Please don't come in."
Pacing By The Door
Maria felt her stomach churning with unease. Kyle must have been doing something in there for such a long time. A straining ear pressed against the door, trying to hear any clues as to what was happening inside. All she heard was the unyielding, relentless flow of water.
With the hours slipping by, Maria raced through worst-case scenarios in her head as she paced anxiously outside the bathroom. Has Kyle been injured? Did he feel sick? Is there something even more sinister at work here?
Worried About Him
Finally, Maria knocked on the door again with trembling voice, unable to bear the suspense any longer. The thought of her son being in distress broke her heart. "Kyle, honey, please let me in. I'm really worried about you," she begged.
Water cascading down in torrents continued to cascade without response from the other side of the door. Fumbling for the doorknob, Maria's hands shake uncontrollably as desperation clawed at her chest. Is Kyle all right?
Mom, No!
Her fingers started to turn the knob as she opened the door, but Kyle's small, scared voice interrupted her. He cried out, eyes choked with tears, "Don't open the door, Mommy! You can't see me like this!".
Maria's heart broke at the anguish in her son's voice. Kyle was clearly distressed by whatever was happening in that bathroom. She felt powerless to help him without knowing what was going on.
Just Stay There
For the rest of the evening, Maria sat outside the bathroom door, listening helplessly as Kyle continued to sob quietly on the other side. She longed to comfort him, to take away whatever pain he was feeling, but she didn't know how.
As the night wore on, Maria's exhaustion finally caught up with her, and she drifted off to sleep against the hard wooden door, her dreams haunted by the sound of running water and her son's tearful cries.
Where Is He
The next morning, Maria couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that settled heavily upon her shoulders. She woke up from a stiff neck falling asleep on the floor.
She saw that Kyle's bed hadn’t been slept in. Brushing the sleep from her eyes, she realized what had happened the night before. She pushed open the bathroom door, to see her son, still there in the bathroom.
Up All Night
Maria awoke to find the bathroom door standing open and Kyle looking at the mirror, his eyes red-rimmed and swollen from crying.
Maria's heart clenched with worry, her maternal instincts screaming at her to intervene. Ignoring Kyle's protests, she turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, her eyes widening in shock at the scene before her.
Fighting The Night
There stood Kyle, perched precariously on the edge of the basin, his gaze fixed intensely on the mirror in front of him. He was speaking softly to himself, his tiny voice filled with determination and conviction. Maria's initial shock gave way to confusion as she listened closely to his words.
"I'm a big boy who can do things by himself," Kyle repeated, his reflection staring back at him with unwavering resolve. Maria's mind raced, trying to comprehend what she was witnessing. Was her son talking to himself? Was there something more to this strange ritual?
What Did You Learn
For a moment, Maria's thoughts veered into the realm of the supernatural, her imagination conjuring up all manner of fantastical explanations. But then, a flicker of recognition ignited within her as she recalled Kyle's grandmother, Laura, and her love of motivational healing.
Realization dawned like a sunbeam breaking through storm clouds. Laura must have taught Kyle these affirmations, as a way to boost his confidence and self-esteem. Yet, Maria couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. "Kyle, sweetheart, what are you doing?" Maria finally spoke, her voice gentle yet tinged with concern.
Why Is He Scared
Maria's heart swelled with a mixture of pride and worry. Pride in her son's resilience and determination to overcome whatever obstacles he faced. Worry for what might be troubling him beneath the surface, driving him to seek solace in whispered affirmations in front of a mirror.
As Kyle climbed down from the basin, Maria enveloped him in a warm embrace, her mind swirling with questions and uncertainties. What was troubling her little boy? Was there something he wasn't telling her?
His Own Fears
That evening, as Maria tucked Kyle into bed, his eyes filled with innocent curiosity as he gazed up at her. "Mommy, do you think I'm brave?"
A lump formed in Maria's throat as she gazed down at her son, his vulnerability laid bare before her. Swallowing back her own fears, she smiled softly and replied, "Of course, my dear. You are the bravest boy I know."
Maternal Support
But as she extinguished the bedside lamp and tiptoed out of Kyle's room, Maria couldn't help but wonder what lay behind her son's whispered affirmations and solitary conversations in front of the mirror.
What was he trying so desperately to convince himself of? And could she, as his mother, ever truly understand the depths of his silent struggles? He was a soft boy who cried easily, she didn’t want to upset him.
He’s At It Again
Maria awoke the next day hoping that it was all a bad dream. But it was more like a recurring nightmare. Kyle had locked himself in the bathroom again. "Kyle?" Maria called out tentatively, her voice tinged with concern. "Are you okay, sweetheart?"
No response came from the other side of the door, just the steady hum of the faucet. Maria's anxiety spiked. She raised her hand to knock but hesitated. Something didn't feel right. Instead, she pressed her ear against the door, straining to hear any clue as to what her son might be doing in there.
Who Is He Talking To
She listened for a few minutes but could only hear his voice talking. After what felt like an eternity, she finally mustered the courage to knock softly. "Kyle, honey, can I come in?"
There was a moment of silence, then a muffled sniffle. "No, Mommy," came Kyle's small voice from behind the door. "I'm busy. Please don't come in." He was crying and didn’t want her to see.
Mommy’s Here
Maria's heart clenched at the sound of her son's sniffles. "Are you sure you're okay, sweetheart? Do you need Mommy's help?" But Kyle's response was firm. "No, Mommy. I'm fine. Please go away."
Maria's concern deepened. What could he possibly be doing in there for so long? She debated whether to respect his wishes or intervene, but her maternal instincts won out. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
A Dangerous Position
With a determined resolve, Maria turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, only to be met with a sight that left her speechless.
Kyle was standing on top of the bathroom basin, his small frame reflected in the mirror, talking to himself in a hushed voice. She grabbed him and placed him on the floor.
I Don’t Know Mom
"Kyle, what are you doing?" Maria exclaimed, her voice a mixture of shock and confusion. Startled, Kyle stumbled slightly before turning to face his mother, his eyes wide with guilt. "Mommy, I-I was just..."
Maria's mind raced with a flurry of emotions. At first, she was convinced that something supernatural was at play, but as she listened to Kyle's words, she realized he was repeating positive affirmations to himself.
Granny Said This
Startled, Kyle turned to face his mother, his eyes wide with apprehension. "I...I'm just talking to myself, Mommy. Grandma Laura says it helps me be brave." "I'm a big boy who can do things by myself," Kyle recited, his voice trembling slightly. "Grandma Laura taught me."
Maria's heart sank as she pieced together the puzzle. Laura, her mother-in-law, had always been one to undermine Maria's authority as a parent. Could she be behind this?
A Step Ahead
Determined to get to the bottom of it, Maria donned her metaphorical detective hat. She knew that confronting Laura directly would only lead to denial, so she devised a plan. Placing a discreet camera inside the bathroom, she waited anxiously for the footage to reveal the truth.
Days passed, and Maria couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her insides. Finally, she gathered the courage to review the footage, her heart pounding with anticipation. What was her mother-in-law teaching her son to say?
What Laura Said
What she saw left her fuming. The video showed Laura coaching Kyle, feeding him lines like "My mom isn't always right" and "I know better than Mommy." Maria's blood boiled with anger and betrayal.
Confronting Laura was inevitable now. With a steely determination, Maria marched over to her mother-in-law's house, her mind racing with a million thoughts and emotions.
Confronting Her Mother-In-Law
The angry mother drove over to her mother-in-law's house. “You have some nerve," Maria seethed as she barged into Laura's living room, the evidence of her betrayal burning like a fire within her.
Laura's eyes widened in feigned innocence. "Maria, whatever do you mean?" Maria's heart sank as she pieced together the puzzle. Laura, her mother-in-law, had always been one to undermine Maria's authority as a parent. Could she be behind this?
For His Sake
The furious mother stood in front of her mother-in-law. "Don't play dumb with me," Maria spat, brandishing the incriminating footage. "You've been poisoning my son's mind against me, filling his head with lies and deceit."
Laura's facade crumbled, replaced by a mask of guilt and shame. "I-I only wanted what was best for Kyle," she stammered, her voice tinged with remorse. "I didn't mean any harm."
The Final Say
But Maria was done with excuses. "You've crossed a line, Laura," she declared, her voice trembling with anger. "From now on, Kyle will not be visiting you unsupervised. I won't allow you to manipulate him any longer."
With that, Maria turned on her heel and stormed out of Laura's house, leaving behind a trail of broken trust and shattered relationships. Was it really the end of their relationship?
Family Problems
As she drove home, Maria couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness and betrayal. The woman she had once trusted as family had betrayed her in the worst possible way. How would she tell her husband?
But amidst the pain and heartache, Maria found solace in the unwavering love and loyalty of her son, Kyle. And together, they would overcome whatever challenges lay ahead, stronger and more united than ever before.