Lily, 5, and Jack, 4, for four nights and five days. At first, I didn’t want to do it. It seemed like a lot of work, and Sarah had always made it clear that her family was her top priority over ours.
This bothered me, and I was annoyed that they asked me instead of her mother, who usually helped them. However, Ethan’s heartfelt plea convinced me. He said it was a rare chance for them, and even though a part of me felt they were manipulating me, I agreed.
While they were away, I got an invitation to a birthday party at Disney World. It seemed like a perfect chance to do something fun with the grandkids, and I didn’t think to ask Ethan and Sarah. Sarah had often mentioned wanting to take the kids to Disney “someday,” but it always seemed like a distant dream, not something imminent. I decided to take Lily and Jack to the Magic Kingdom. Despite Sarah’s plan to take them someday, I felt I had to show them the place.
When they returned, Sarah’s reaction shocked me. She cried and accused me of stealing a precious moment from her—their first trip to Disney. Her words hurt, calling me entitled, which stung even more because she often asked for childcare favors.
Ethan, trying to keep the peace, asked me to apologize, saying it was a significant oversight. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Being called entitled and their lack of respect for my initial reluctance made me stubborn. I saw no reason to apologize for taking the grandkids on a fun outing, especially since babysitting them was already a favor on my part.
The fallout was swift. Ethan insisted an apology was necessary to make peace and because Sarah felt deprived of an important moment. To them, my actions were thoughtless and overshadowed the joy of the birthday celebration. To me, it highlighted a deeper issue—a lack of appreciation and respect for my boundaries.
Our disagreement has grown into a larger problem, with Ethan hoping that sharing this story would help me see my mistake. As I reflect on this, I struggle with the complexities of family dynamics, the expectations we have for each other, and the impact of well-meaning decisions.
I wonder if this is about more than just a trip to Disney. Maybe it’s about understanding, communication, and how our actions affect our loved ones. Or perhaps it’s about the boundaries we set and navigate as a family, where right and wrong blur with love and responsibility. As I share this story, I realize my son might be right.
The internet might think I’m at fault. But more than seeking approval or forgiveness, I find myself thinking about the intricacies of human relationships, the mistakes we make, and the lessons we learn.
In the end, maybe Ethan is right. Maybe people will see me as the bad guy in this story. But as I think about what happened, I hope for a resolution that brings us closer, understanding our complex feelings and fostering a deeper connection among us. I really hope my son, his wife, and I can move past this. But in the meantime, I really want to know: Do you think I was wrong?
19 thoughts on “I Took My Grandchildren to Disney World and Now My Dil Is Mad at Me”
No you are not wrong. Selfishness of your son and DIL. They can still take the kids to Disney world and the kids will enjoy it all over again
No, I don’t think you’re wrong! You were taking care of your grandchildren while they did whatever they did! You were invited to a great vacation yourself & why not take your grandchildren! Your son & daughter in-law should be grateful for doing what you did! Babysitting & taken them on a lil adventure. They ought to be thankful that you were able to do that for your grandchildren! Disney will still be there when they are ready to take them & maybe the kids will be a little older & can enjoy it more at a different level. In the end everyone had a great adventure & time is precious to be angry cause you didn’t do it first!! Be glad you have each other & enjoy life !
You were not wrong.
NTJ. Your children (son and DiL) need to grow up. They are acting entitled. They should be happy that you kept the grandchildren for a week and the grands had a good time. I would have loved to go to Disney with my grandparents. My cousins got to go but I lived too far away. Disney is wonderful when you are a child. Your grands can go multiple times and will always find new and exciting adventures there.
I do not think you were totally wrong but you probably should have called them and ask them to get their permission. You heart was in right place trying to do something memorable for your grandchildren.
If the children were left in your care then the parents should be grateful that you have taken good care of them and that they had a wonderful time with grandma! Grandma is allowed to make memories also! You owe ZERO apologies! The parents are the ones who owe the apology for not appreciating your being willing to take care of their children while they were on vacation!!
Nope. You were not wrong. And your daughter-in-law should apologize for having called you thoughtless and entitled. So your grandchildren had a fun experience with grandma. What’s wrong with that? The parents can take them somewhere else that would be a first family experience .
It is time the DIL gave thought to others rather than causing such unpleasantness to herMIL who had given of her time to babysit her two children for several days. Sulking about not being the one to be the FIRST to take them to a special place. Shame indeed upon the selfish DIL. The MIL has not initiated this event but had been invited to it. The DIL should stop being such a selfish, thoughtless individual and thank her MIL for all she has done. There is enough selfishness around the world, stop, think, be grateful for all you have been given. Also the son needs to stand back and look at his selfish behavior to his mother.
Couple had a rare chance at a trip. Guess Grandma had a rare chance too. I don’t think she was wrong. Kids will be even more excited to go again. Grandma made a memory, kids had a good time. She did not mean to ruin an imagined event for anyone. Mom should be happy for them instead of being angry. This should not be something to cause so much trouble in a family. Mom needs to be glad her kids had a good time with Grandmother and were well cared for.
The kids were in your care for a while, if you had to go someplace or somewhere you have to take them with you. Your DIL it self centered, and wants everything her way no matter what, your husband should stand up for you.
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Nope, you didn’t do anything wrong
Nope! You were NOT wrong! Your DIL is way out of line even thinking this way! She should be overjoyed you accepted the responsibility to. Watch them! You were going to take them anywhere you went! Tell her to get her head outta her ass and get over it! What an entitled biatch she is!
No offense but it sounds to me that your daughter in law is a drama queen and the only reason your son is acting that way is welllhe has to live with her. He needs to man up and let her know that memories you have with the grandchildren at Disney is totally different then the ones she will have for them. JUST GROW UP!!!
I agree your memories are different than hers with the kids you did nothing wrong
OMG!!!tell your son to get a grip and tell your dil to get a grip as well.
And yes they need to grow up. I bet that free babysitting isn’t so bad and a trip to Disney…. Wtg gram. Don’t feel bad just tell your kids to grow up. This was not a terrible decision in fact I think it’s a great one.
They were left in your care and at no time did your DIL mention someday taking them to Disney World here self so how were you suppose to know. Plus why miss out on a invitation you truly wanted to go to. Your kids needs to stop and count their blessings to have someone like you that for sure loves her grandchildren.
No you were right to take them. Your DIL is jealous, instead of being happy for her kids to have been invited ti Disney by their grandmother. She is being selfish
I think you are 100% right I think your daughter-in-law is a very selfish woman to even accuse you of the things that she has accused you of. I’m sure the children had a wonderful time there, and rather than all the adults fighting with each other take the time out and think about the children and what a wonderful time they had. This is not about the grownups it’s about the children, I’m sure once your daughter-in-law takes the children to Disney World. They’re gonna enjoy it just as much and she can take pictures and say our children’s first trip to Disney World or anything else she wants to tell people think about it grown-ups it’s about the children not about the grown-ups.
No I don’t think you were wrong or over stepping any boundaries. You are the grandmother ..I think that says a lot . There was the opportunity..the kids were left in trusted hands so why not. The mother should really appreciate there gesture of taking the kids with you to give Mom and Dad some time. Think about it . You did a great favor for all of you. Now rest easy .. the kids had fun .. mom and dad had fun at the wedding and grandma enjoyed her friends at the party. Hey it’s a WIN WIN to me..no apology necessary.. thank you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️