Grandma Gives Baby Daily Baths, Odd Smell Alerts Mom

Handling families can be tough, and dealings with in-laws have their unique challenges. Unease often builds up between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law due to issues like fear, envy, feeling insecure, and issues around personal boundaries. Sarah Anderson was grateful when her mother-in-law Andrea offered to help take care of her newborn baby, Eden. Having another pair of hands was a relief to her. However, she started to notice odd changes in Eden when Andrea spent time with her. As she dug deeper into what was happening, what she discovered was far more chilling and unsettling than anything she could have ever anticipated.

Meet the Andersons

Marcus and Sarah Anderson are a couple residing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their love story, blossoming over a span of five years, recently culminated in the purchase of their first house. Marcus earns his living as a realtor, whereas Sarah shapes young minds as a fourth grade teacher. Their story is one of love, growth, and new beginnings.

Image is for illustration purposes only: Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Not long ago, Sarah and her partner received the joyful news that they were about to become parents. After trying for about a year, this good news brought immense happiness to them. Even though they were aware that raising a child wouldn't be easy, they had no idea that the issues they were going to encounter would closely threaten the unity of their family. They knew the little one would come with a big responsibility, but the surprise was the challenges ahead, which were almost potent enough to shatter their family's harmony.

New Baby

Marcus and Sarah became parents on the 15th of April when their baby girl decided to come into the world a couple of weeks too soon. There were a few unexpected complications during her birth that had them all staying in the hospital for a whole month. The entire family held onto hope, praying that their little one would be absolutely fine.

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Their decision to name their precious newborn baby girl Eden seemed perfect for them. They weren't particularly religious people, but they figured that their little bundle of joy deserved a name that felt special. That day finally arrived when they were allowed to bring their little Eden home from the hospital, their hearts filled with relief and love. It seemed like the difficult part was over since Eden was in good health and no longer in danger. Little did they know, their real journey as parents was only just beginning.

Family Support

The Andersons crossed the threshold of their home, their minds filled with thoughts of getting little Eden settled and ensuring she had all she required for an excellent start to life. Regrettably, Marcus had used all of his paternity leave back when Eden stayed in the hospital, meaning he had no choice but to dive right back into work.

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Sarah was a bit nervous about the idea of taking responsibility for Eden the entire day. She made sure to read all the books related to parenting, but the experience of caring for a newborn was teaching her that no amount of preparation can truly gear you up for this unpredictable journey. Thankfully, their relatives were just a call away, always eager to lend a hand. However, the sole issue was Sarah's strained relationship with her husband's side of the family. They've had their differences in the past which made the situation slightly complicated.

Marcus’ Mom

Andrea, the mother of Marcus, had never really given her approval of Sarah. Andrea believed Sarah wasn't worthy of her single child. It was noticeable, she didn't make an effort to conceal her feelings.

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Sarah was hopeful that having a baby in the picture would lead to a better relationship with her mother-in-law. After all, they both wanted what was best for little Eden. In the beginning, Sarah was thankful for Andrea's support and assistance. Nonetheless, it wasn't too long before the tension between them escalated, jeopardizing their relationship once again.