That was quite a bold move, and it clearly had a powerful impact! It seems like you managed to take all the hurt Evelyn had caused and turn it into a moment of growth and reflection. Not many people would have handled it that way—especially with such poise and patience.
I think I might have struggled to be as composed, especially after all the emotional damage she caused over the years. Confronting her publicly could have backfired, but it seems like it was the exact wake-up call she needed. Would you say that your relationship with Evelyn has genuinely improved since then, or is there still some lingering tension?
MY MIL DRESSED AS A WITCH FOR HALLOWEEN — AND NOW MY KID IS TR.AUMATlZE.D!
It sounds like such a tough situation! Halloween is supposed to be fun, but I can completely see how this went too far, especially for a young child. Here’s a possible approach that might help calm her fears and explain the situation:
First, try gently talking to your daughter and validating her feelings. Tell her it’s okay to feel scared and that even grown-ups can be spooked sometimes. Then, explain that Halloween is a time when people dress up to look silly or different from how they usually do – even adults! You could say, “Grandma was just pretending to be a witch, like when you dress up as a princess or a superhero.”
If she’s still worried, maybe go through some pictures together, like showing her photos of grandma without the costume. You could even do a fun little makeup session at home where you both take turns “transforming” each other, so she can see that makeup and costumes are just ways to play pretend.
Later, maybe you and your mother-in-law can arrange a calm, positive visit where she can be herself, maybe even in “happy” colors instead of the dark ones that might remind your daughter of the witch costume. Hopefully, it will help replace those scary memories with warmer ones, and grandma can be back in her good books soon!
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