Many people believe that being a parent is a huge joy. But for grandparents, watching their own children become parents can be just as special.
However, for one loving grandma, things weren’t as easy as they seemed. She had to stand her ground when her daughter started treating her like a full-time babysitter for her grandson!
Want to know what happened when this grandma finally said “no”? Keep reading!
A 56-year-old grandma took to Reddit’s ‘Am I the A*e’ thread to share a tough choice she had to make between helping her daughter and taking care of herself.
In her post, the grandmother, known as Original Poster (OP), explained that she was feeling torn between needing a break and constantly looking after her 14-month-old grandson. She had planned to relax, but her daughter had different ideas.
Her daughter, 26, had been living with OP ever since her partner left when their son was only three months old. As a single mom, she relied heavily on her mother’s help.
Normally, OP would watch her grandson from 6 PM to 8 PM while her daughter was at work. It wasn’t a lot of time, but it was enough to give her daughter some peace of mind.
“To support my daughter, I cover all the home expenses, while she takes care of daycare costs and the baby’s essentials like diapers and formula,” OP explained. “She’s even saving money so she can move out someday.”
Things were going smoothly until OP mentioned that she was planning to take a month off just to rest.
“I planned to take a month off next month to relax, without going anywhere,” OP shared.
But when her daughter found out about the break, she saw an opportunity.
“When my daughter heard about my time off, she suggested I could watch my grandson all day instead of sending him to daycare,” OP said. “She thought it would help her save money, and that way, she could move out sooner.”
At first, OP felt guilty. Her daughter was a single mom trying to make ends meet, and asking for help wasn’t unreasonable. But OP knew she needed her rest. She had been working hard, both at home and taking care of her grandson.
So, she said no. She told her daughter that she would watch the baby in the mornings, but not for the whole day.
“She started crying,” OP recalled. “She told me she was working so hard to be independent and move out, but that being a single mom was really tough. She said I wasn’t helping her enough.”
Her daughter even begged for just three more hours of help each day. But OP stood her ground.
“I adore my grandson,” OP explained. “But I need my rest too. I have to set boundaries.”
Even though she stuck to her decision, OP couldn’t help but feel guilty. She knew her daughter’s situation was difficult, but she also knew she had to look after herself.
“I love my grandson, but I also need my rest,” OP stated.
The story quickly gained attention online, with many people sharing their opinions on the situation. Most agreed that OP wasn’t in the wrong for wanting time to herself.
One commenter pointed out a practical issue: “If she pulls her child from daycare for a month, the daycare will likely give that spot to another family. They can’t afford to leave it unpaid for that long.”
The same person added, “Has she gone after her ex for child support? That’s what she should be focusing on—it’ll help her finances more than skipping daycare for a month.”
Another commenter shared their support for OP: “If you burn out from all the work, then who will be there to help her? It’s not fair for her to put all of this on you. You’re doing so much already, and it’s okay to say ‘no.’”
In the end, OP’s story shows the challenge of balancing personal needs with family responsibilities—a struggle that many people can understand.