Every time my two boys, Alex and Ben, visited their grandmother, they came home sick. At first, I assumed it was just seasonal colds or weaker immune systems, but it only ever happened after their weekends at Grandma Eileen’s. When I brought it up to my husband, Nathan, he brushed off my worries, saying kids sometimes get sick and that it “builds character.” Still, my gut told me something wasn’t right.

One weekend, after dropping the boys off, I realized I’d forgotten their bag and drove back to Eileen’s house. When I arrived, the house was strangely quiet until I heard Eileen’s firm voice through an open window. Inside, I found my boys doing intense exercises in a cold room, looking exhausted and uncomfortable. I quickly wrapped them in blankets and confronted Eileen. She calmly explained that she was teaching them “discipline” to prepare them for life, but it was clearly too extreme for young children.

On the drive home, the boys revealed more about their visits: sleeping in cold rooms, strict exercise routines, and very limited food and comforts. Nathan later admitted that this was how he was raised and believed it helped him become strong and resilient. I was shocked that he didn’t see how harmful this was to our children, who were already showing signs of stress and illness.

I told Nathan firmly that this had to stop. Our children’s health and happiness must come first. That night, I stayed awake, thinking about how to protect my boys while keeping our family together. One thing was certain—I would never send them back to Grandma’s under those conditions again.