Grandma has the best response to mom who assumes she will babysit granddaughter since ‘she has no life’
Grandparents are often a big help to new parents. While navigating the roles of mothers and fathers, having your own parents to guide is a blessing. Apart from this, they are a trusted source for one’s children to spend time with. While grandparents give their all to spend time with their grandchildren, they also have a life and should not be taken for granted. A grandmother, who goes by u/danyrays4days on Reddit, shared that when her daughter Lia began disrespecting her personal space and assumed her to be a babysitter stating that she “had no life,” she didn’t hesitate to respond efficiently.
The elderly woman explained that her daughter got pregnant at the age of 14. “As a mother, I couldn't have her work and distract herself from school, I didn't want her to miss her childhood so I had to work evening-night shifts to care for my granddaughter while Lia was in school,” she explained. The grandma added that she was a single mother making ends meet but her heart broke for her teenage daughter and she decided to go out of her way and help. Unfortunately, Lia began to take advantage of her mum’s help. The grandma painstakingly recalled her daughter making Valentine’s Day plans over the phone.
When the topic of babysitting the grandchild came up, she carelessly said, “My mom will do it, she has no life anyway.” The grandma added, “Ever since she gave birth to her daughter, I haven't gone out to any parties. I've canceled many weekend gatherings so that my daughter would be able to hang out with her friends." The woman added that all her outdoor plans involved the baby in her company. “For her to laugh about my situation like that angered me,” the grandma remarked. In order to take a stand for herself, the grandma decided to go out on Valentine’s Day with a guy she’d been seeing.
Despite being hesitant initially, she noted, “He's a really nice guy, I haven't been on a date for almost 6 years and it wouldn't hurt to give my daughter a taste of motherhood when she least expected it.” The grandma confidently let Lia know that she was going out and would not be taking the baby along. “I said that she'll have to cancel plans for the day. I didn't expect her reaction to be so extreme—she cried, screamed and told me I was being selfish and that I was letting her miss her date just because I thought a guy was interested in me,” the woman recalled.
Despite the manipulation and tantrums, the grandma stood her ground and went on her date. “She had to cancel plans but she's still really mad about it and has been ignoring me. I love my daughter but I wanted her to learn a lesson and be responsible,” the grandma concluded. People applauded her confident response and said that it was not just about teaching the girl a lesson but taking a stand for herself. u/Scarlettohara1605 remarked, “It's not your job to be looking after your granddaughter.” u/WeeklyGuest4455 said, “She is clearly taking advantage of you. You need to let her deal with her own child, go live your life.”
