Grandmas often hold a significant role in family life. This is especially true when it concerns looking after their grandkids. However, deciding to step in as a caregiver can sometimes clash with their own plans and needs.
These four real-life stories from Reddit show where grandmothers had to make tough choices between helping their families and preserving their personal time.
Two elderly women sitting on a sofa and a child faced away from the camera | Source: Pexels
Grandma Refused to Babysit Grandkids Because of Daughter-In-Law’s Strict Rules
In July 2020, a grandmother faced a dilemma. Her son, father to a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, needed her to babysit for a week due to his wife’s return to work.
The Original Poster (OP) explained, “She has been trying to return to the workforce for a while now and she finally got an offer in her field. The earliest she can get the kids into daycare is a week after when they want her to start.”
A woman laughing while at work sitting behind a desk | Source: Pexels
This meant OP would look after the kids nine hours a day. The arrangement, however, came with a list of strict rules from her daughter-in-law (DIL): a vegetarian diet without provided food, no TV, enforced enrichment worksheets, and a stringent schedule. “I do understand naps but I think the rest of it is too much when I would be doing them a favor,” said OP.
Most burdensome was the prohibition of visitors, isolating the grandmother from her daily social interactions. OP, who admitted she would rather babysit for her other son, penned:
“I see my friends almost every day. […] She thinks my friends are bad people and she is very strict about the influences on her kids.”
Two elderly women reading the newspaper together | Source: Pexels
“I told my son that that’s way too much to ask of anyone and they need to find a professional,” OP stated, highlighting the unreasonable expectations placed upon her.
OP’s son...
