As a retired grandmother, I thought I was being reasonable when I set boundaries with my daughter-in-law about babysitting her kids. However, my decision has sparked a family feud that’s left everyone feeling hurt and frustrated.
It started when my daughter-in-law asked me to babysit her three children. I agreed to watch my grandson, who is my biological grandson, but I told her I would need to be paid to watch her other two kids from her previous marriage. I love all of her children, but as a retired person, babysitting three kids at once is overwhelming for me.
To my surprise, my daughter-in-law didn’t respond to my request. Instead, she changed the locks on her house, and when I tried to visit, she told me I wasn’t welcome anymore. She accused me of treating her kids differently, which hurt me deeply.
I tried to explain to her that my decision wasn’t about favoritism, but about setting realistic boundaries as a retired person. I offered to continue watching my grandson, but I felt that I needed compensation for watching all three kids. Unfortunately, my daughter-in-law wasn’t willing to listen, and now there’s tension in the family.
My son is caught in the middle, trying to navigate the conflict between his wife and me. I feel guilty for causing stress in the family, but I also believe that my boundaries should be respected. I’m not sure how to address this situation without making things worse.
