A grandma was faced with a difficult decision: she could either spend her vacation by herself or take care of her grandchild. Her daughter didn’t understand the difficulties of being a single mother and thought she was unfair.
It can be difficult to manage the responsibilities of being a single parent, but having a solid support system can make things easier. A mother and grandma who wishes to remain anonymous posted about her experience in the “AITA” subreddit on September 16, 2023. She had been working hard to provide for her kid, whose father had abandoned them, leaving her a single mother.
Though the 56-year-old manages to balance her personal life, her position as a caring mother, and her role as an involved grandma, she had a difficult time when she had to turn down babysitting her grandson.
When her kid was just three months old, her 26-year-old daughter had to deal with the father leaving her child. She had to start again and move back in with her mother as a result.
Despite her busy schedule of work and gym visits, the elderly mother stayed dedicated to helping her daughter recover her independence. The grandma always made an effort to find time in her hectic schedule to help her daughter and spend quality time with her grandson.
Her normal day ended at five o’clock, and she spent the next two hours taking care of her grandson until her daughter came home.
The grandmother handled the financial elements, explaining that her daughter took care of necessities for the baby, such as diapers and daycare, while she paid home bills. The older woman thought that she may save enough money for her independent existence in the future because of this arrangement.
The daughter, though, wasn’t convinced.
The grandma wanted some alone time, even despite her heartfelt attempts to support her daughter in navigating the difficulties of being a single mother. This goal caused them to have a serious disagreement, which made the grandma second-guess her choices.
The Mother and Daughter’s Big Argument
The grandmother’s decision to take a month off from work caused the matter to take an unforeseen turn. Instead of going on vacation, she just wanted to take some time off and relax. But when her daughter found out about her much-needed trip, she viewed it as a perfect chance for her mother to step in and watch the kids.
The daughter thought that her mother’s leave of absence from work would help with childcare expenses. The grandmother quickly said no, saying, “I immediately said no, as it is my rest and taking care of a child for 6h/5d+2h at night is not in my plans,” when she found out about the request.
Even though the grandmother disapproved of her daughter’s decision to take the child out of daycare, she made an effort to compromise. To give her daughter more time to herself, she offered to assist with morning babysitting. However, she demanded that the grandson continue to attend daycare in the afternoon.
The daughter, however, had a different opinion. Feeling overwhelmed, she confided in her mother about the difficulties of being a single parent and said that the arrangement was not making things easier for her.
The daughter, in need of encouragement desperately, begged her mother to allow her to stay three extra hours. The grandma refused to change her mind, even in the face of an impassioned appeal.
The grandma went on to say that she didn’t think hanging out with a 14-month-old would be relaxing. She was sympathetic to her daughter’s difficult situation and had a great deal of compassion for her grandson, but she was adamant about making herself the priority during this trip.
The Response on the Internet
The decision made by the elderly mother to not watch her grandson was deemed acceptable by the readers. Many concurred that her ability to move out of debt would not have been damaged by taking one month off from paying for daycare.
A Reddit member made the observation that dropping the kid off at daycare would end up costing her more because they might have to give up her son’s seat for the month he would be absent. Others suggested that the woman approach the authorities and her former boyfriend for assistance.
Commenters acknowledged that being a single mother was difficult, but many also thought the grandma shouldn’t have to give up her vacation in favor of a kid who wasn’t hers. Do you think the elder mother was correct to turn down the opportunity to watch her granddaughter so that her daughter could make some more cash? In the shoes of the OP, how would you respond?
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