By pepko 
Every grandmother loves spending quality time with their grandkids during the holidays. But when my six-year-old granddaughter started calling me names, I put a plan in motion that helped me discover that not everyone in your life will appreciate you.
Every holiday, I eagerly await my granddaughter Brittany’s visit for winter break. I prepared my home with all the festive touches, especially baking her favorite chocolate chip cookies. When I picked her up from my son Todd and daughter-in-law Rachel’s house, Brittany was as excited as ever, running to me with her PAW Patrol backpack.
However, the joy was short-lived. Brittany began calling me “old lady” and “wrinkly hag,” names that shocked me given our close relationship. Initially, I thought it was just playful banter from school, but her persistence made me question the source of these words.
One day, while we were coloring together, I casually asked where she learned those names. Her innocent response was a blow – she had heard her parents, Todd and Rachel, refer to me that way when I called. This revelation was heart-wrenching, especially after all the support I’d given them, from helping with their mortgage to funding family vacations.
I decided to set a plan in motion. I placed a small voice recorder in Brittany’s backpack before returning her home, hoping to catch any further disrespectful conversation. Nearly two weeks later, I invited Brittany back for a weekend, retrieved the recorder, and listened to the incriminating conversation where Rachel and Todd expressed their frustration with my involvement, even admitting they encouraged Brittany to use those names to push me away.
Confronting them was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I invited them for dinner, played the recording, and laid down new boundaries. I told them there would be no more financial help or unsolicited babysitting unless I chose to do so. It was a painful but necessary stand.
After they left with Brittany and the toys I had bought, I felt a mix of relief and sadness. The house was too quiet, but I knew I had to respect myself and teach them the value of appreciation and respect. Standing up for oneself can be lonely, but it’s crucial for maintaining one’s dignity and teaching others how to treat you. My hope is that one day, they’ll see the love behind all my actions and we can rebuild our relationship on mutual respect.