Many people believe that being a parent brings a lot of joy, but for grandparents, it can be just as special to watch their children have kids of their own.
However, for one loving grandma, things weren’t as wonderful as they seemed. She had to stand her ground when her daughter began treating her like a full-time babysitter for her grandson!
Keep reading to find out what happened when this grandma finally said “no”…
On Reddit’s ‘Am I the A*e’ thread, a 56-year-old grandmother shared the tough decision she had to make between helping her daughter and taking care of herself.
She explained that she felt trapped between wanting to relax and being expected to look after her 14-month-old grandson during her planned break.
Her 26-year-old daughter, a single mom after her partner left when their son was just three months old, had been living with her mom for support. While the grandma, known as the Original Poster (OP), usually helped out, this situation pushed her to her limit.
In her post, OP explained, “I normally take care of my grandson from 6 PM to 8 PM while my daughter works. I do this to support her.”
She continued, “To help my daughter, I cover all the home expenses, while she pays for daycare and the baby’s essentials like diapers and formula. She’s even been saving a little money for when she can move out.”
But OP had been looking forward to taking a month off to relax. “I planned to take a month off next month to rest, without going anywhere,” she shared.
Everything seemed fine—until OP’s daughter found out about her plan for time off. That’s when things took a turn.
“When my daughter heard about my time off, she suggested I watch my grandson full-time during the day,” OP wrote. “She thought it would help her save money on daycare and move out sooner.”
While OP sympathized with her daughter’s struggles as a single mom, she still needed her own time to rest. She kindly, but firmly, said no to babysitting beyond the morning hours.
“She started crying,” OP said, “saying that she was doing everything she could to become independent and move out, but being a single mom was really hard. She said I wasn’t making it easier for her.”
Her daughter even begged for just three extra hours of help each day. But OP stayed strong. “I love my grandson, but I need to set boundaries,” OP explained. “I told her no. I need my rest.”
Even though she stuck to her decision, OP admitted she felt guilty afterward. She knew how difficult her daughter’s situation was, but she also knew she had to take care of herself too.
“I love my grandson, but I also need my rest,” she confessed.
The story quickly sparked a lot of conversation online, with people weighing in on OP’s tough situation.
Many people understood OP’s need for a break. One person pointed out a practical issue: “If she pulls her child from daycare for a month, the daycare will give the spot to someone else. They can’t afford to keep it open without being paid. Has she tried getting child support from her ex yet? That would help more than cutting daycare.”
Another person added, “If you burn out from doing too much, then who will help her? It’s not fair to blame you for her struggles. You’re already doing a lot for her, but she keeps asking for more. Stick to your decision.”
In the end, OP’s situation highlighted the difficult balance between taking care of yourself and helping your family, a challenge that many people can relate to.
