I Was Called a “Built-In Babysitter” — and That’s When I Finally Said Enough

I love those babies more than words can describe, but I had already done my time with sleepless nights and endless diapers. I’m in my sixties now. I want to enjoy my retirement — garden, read, travel a little — not repeat the full-time parenting marathon.

Each time I tried to draw a small boundary, my daughter-in-law smiled sweetly and said, “That’s what grandmas do.” When I mentioned it to my son, he always said, “Mom, she’s just stressed. Don’t take it personally.”

But it was personal. I didn’t want praise or money — just acknowledgment that my time was mine to offer, not theirs to assume.

The Post That Broke My Heart

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