Many people think being a parent is full of joy, but grandparents find just as much happiness in watching their children raise kids of their own.
However, for one caring grandma, things weren’t so simple. She found herself in a tough spot when her daughter started treating her like a full-time babysitter for her grandson!
Curious about what happened when this grandma finally put her foot down and said “no”? Here’s the story…
A 56-year-old grandma took to Reddit’s “Am I the A*e” thread to share a hard choice she had to make between helping her daughter and taking care of herself. She was torn between enjoying a well-earned break or continuing to care for her 14-month-old grandson as she usually did.
Her daughter, 26, had been living with her ever since the father of her child walked out when their baby was only three months old. As a single mom, she was leaning heavily on her mother for support.
OP (Original Poster), the grandmother, usually looked after her grandson for two hours each evening while her daughter worked. It was a small window of help, but enough to ease the stress of her daughter’s busy schedule.
“To help my daughter, I cover all the house expenses, while she pays for daycare and the baby’s essentials like diapers and formula,” OP shared. “She’s also been saving up for a future move.”
Things were going smoothly until OP announced her plan to take a break. “I decided I was going to take a month off to rest at home, no travel, just some time for myself,” OP explained.
But when her daughter found out about the break, she saw it as a chance to save on daycare costs and speed up her goal of moving out.
“When my daughter heard about my time off, she asked if I could watch my grandson all day instead of sending him to daycare. She thought it would save her money,” OP said.
Even though her daughter pleaded with her, OP knew she needed that time for herself. She said no to watching the baby all day and offered only to help in the mornings.
That’s when things got emotional. “She started crying,” OP recalled. “She told me she’s working so hard to become independent, but being a single mom is really tough, and I’m not making it any easier for her.”
Her daughter even begged for just a few more hours of help. “She pleaded with me for three extra hours of help each day, but I had to stand firm,” OP added.
Although OP felt bad, she knew she had to set boundaries. “I love my grandson so much, but I need to rest too,” OP said.
After sharing her story, OP’s situation sparked a lot of discussion online. Many people chimed in to give their thoughts, with most understanding her need for a break.
One commenter pointed out the risks: “If she pulls her child out of daycare for a month, the spot will likely go to another family. Daycares can’t afford to hold unpaid spots. She might lose that spot altogether.”
Another added, “Has she tried getting child support from her ex? That should be her focus. It’ll help more than cutting daycare for a month.”
Others were quick to support OP’s decision, with one person saying, “If you burn out from all the work, who’s going to support her then? You’re already doing so much, and it’s okay to take time for yourself. Stick to your decision.”
In the end, OP’s story shows just how hard it can be to balance family obligations and personal needs—a struggle that many people can relate to.
