After months of daily babysitting—school pickups, bedtime routines, even overnight stays—a devoted grandmother realized she was being taken for granted. Her daughter-in-law (DIL) stopped asking and started expecting, sending curt texts like “See you at 7 a.m.” No gratitude. No choice.
The grandma finally spoke up: “If you want regular babysitting, I need to be paid.” Her DIL scoffed, calling her dramatic. In retaliation, the DIL sent a grocery bill for everything the grandma had eaten while babysitting. Shocked, she called her son—only to hear him side with his wife: “Don’t be so harsh. They’re your grandkids.”
Feeling blindsided and burnt out, she took a step back. Weeks passed. Then one morning, her DIL showed up stressed, asking for help. The grandma agreed—on two conditions:
- A nanny must be present. She’s too old to handle the kids alone.
- She must be paid for her time. She’s not a free nanny.
Her DIL was furious: “Then what’s the point? Can’t you just be their grandma?”
Now, the grandma feels torn. Is she heartless—or finally standing up for herself? She loves her grandkids deeply, but refuses to be used. Her story sparked thousands of comments from other grandparents who’ve felt the same: love doesn’t mean servitude.
