Recently, when I decided to buy a new school bag for my child, my mother-in-law said that it was a waste of money. She said: “Why buy a new bag every year? Let him make do with last year’s one.” This shocked me – after all, I have never seen a grandmother be greedy for something for her grandson.

When my husband came home and heard this story, he could not stand it. Usually he is reserved, but this time he said to his mother quietly but firmly: “We will decide for ourselves what to buy for our child. If you can’t help, then please don’t interfere.” He took us shopping despite his mother-in-law’s displeasure and showed for the first time that he was ready to protect our family.

This moment became a lesson for me – sometimes even the quietest people can find the strength to stand up for their loved ones when it really matters.