My husband and I bought our granddaughter a wedding gift from her registry. She reached out and accused us of being cheap after getting the wedding present. Now, she is upset and threatens to cut us off because we didn’t give her the cash gift that we presented to each of our grandkids a day before their wedding.
An elderly couple | Source: Getty Images
I’m in my 70s, a proud grandmother to five amazing grandkids: three women and two men. I adore my grandkids and often show up for them emotionally and financially. Whenever they have celebrations or hard times, they know that they can count on me.
Grandparents with their grown grandkids | Source; Getty Images
The youngest of grandkids, Eloise, got married last October. My husband, who is also in his 70s, and I have a tradition for our grandkids. We buy a small gift from the wedding registry, usually the cheapest item, and then, the day before the wedding, we give them a check for $40,000.
We hope they’ll use it for a house, but it’s ultimately their choice. We also ask them to keep it a secret, considering our large family. Until now, everyone has respected this request.
Happy young woman opening a gift | Source: Getty Images
This time, we sent an air fryer to our youngest granddaughter, the cheapest thing on her registry. Eloise called us, livid, accusing us of being cheap. I remember picking up her call and she didn’t even say hi, she just started ranting, “Seriously, Grandma? I just got your gift. An air fryer? That’s the cheapest thing you could find on my registry!”
Woman rejecting a gift | Source: Getty Images
I was taken aback because as much as the air fryer was the cheapest on their registry, I still thought it’d be useful to them, so I told her that. Eloise kept on complaining, “Useful? Come on, you know you can do better than that. Everyone knows you have the money. I just can’t believe you’d be this cheap with me. It’s embarrassing.”
An air fryer | Source: Getty Images
In this heated moment, I told her, “Yes, you’re right. We are cheap, old, and useless. The only thing you DIDN’T know is that the day before the wedding, we were going to gift you a check for $40,000.”
Woman disappointed by a gift | Source: Getty Images
I revealed this in an attempt to explain to Eloise about the cash gift we usually give our grandkids before the wedding but she was so angry at this point, that she wasn’t listening to a thing I said. I speculated that maybe she didn’t believe we would gift her such an amount of money after only buying her an air fryer.
Eventually, she said, “No, it’s clear. You just don’t love me enough to show it. You know how much pressure I’m under with the wedding. And then, this? It’s like you don’t even care,” then she hung up.
Disappointed elderly couple | Source: Getty Images
Despite my husband and I’s shock at Eloise’s reaction, we then bought her a China set, hoping to appease her, but decided against giving her the $40,000, feeling she hadn’t earned it.
Fast forward to last week. Eloise talked to her brother and found out that we were telling her the truth about the money. After confirming it with her cousins, she, called again, accusing us of discrimination, “I just found out that it’s true you gave the money to everyone else when they got married. Why didn’t I get anything?”
A cash gift | source: Getty Images
We stood firm, explaining our stance was due to her initial reaction, “We felt after your reaction to the wedding gift, it wasn’t right to go ahead and gift you the money.” Eloise pleaded trying to convince us otherwise, “So, you’re punishing me? Is that it? Because I was upset about an air fryer?”
Woman throwing tantrums | Source: Getty Images
I was angry that she didn’t even understand what she did wrong. “It wasn’t about the air fryer, Eloise. It was how you spoke to us, the disrespect. That’s not something we expected or can support,” I explained.
Bewildered elderly woman on phone | Source: Getty Images
Eloise implored us, nearly in tears, “But that’s so unfair! I was stressed, Grandma. Planning a wedding is hard, and I just snapped. I didn’t mean any of it.” I felt like she should have only apologized to us instead of finding excuses to justify her behavior.
However, I told her, “We understand that it’s a stressful time, but actions and words have consequences. We hoped you’d understand the value of family and love over material things.” Full of desperation, Eloise added, “But you don’t understand! Can’t we just forget all this happened? I need that money, Grandma.”
Young woman holding back tears on phone | Source: Getty Images
She pleaded, threatened to boycott Christmas, and accused us of cutting her off but we didn’t budge. In the end, I expressed, “We love you very much. This has nothing to do with cutting you off. We just hope you’ll reflect on this and understand why we made our decision.”
Woman showing threatening finger | Source: Getty Images
Now, Eloise has followed up on her threat and she’s boycotting Christmas. Her mother, who is our daughter-in-law, is siding with her, calling us unreasonable. However, we feel that after all we have done for Eloise, the air fryer gift, shouldn’t have triggered this reaction.
Bewildered elderly couple | Source: Getty Images
For context, we had already paid for her college, and her parents covered her graduate school and half the wedding. Additionally, she and her husband are financially comfortable and do not desperately need our money.
We’re also not upset with our grandkids for revealing the cash gift since she is among the group of family members who are allowed to know about it. Our reason for sending the air fryer earlier was that we live far away, so we always send our gifts early.
Elderly couple enjoying family time | Source: Getty Images
The wedding gift is also separate from the money, which we give with the hope it will be used for something significant, like a home. Now, we feel like the action we took towards Eloise was well deserved and we are not going back on our decisions even if she and her mom threaten to do their worst.
Despite the tumultuous events and Eloise’s refusal to understand our perspective, my husband and I stand by our decision. Love and respect in our family are paramount, and we hoped this situation would be a learning experience for her.
Elderly couple with family on Christmas | Source: Getty Images
The holidays might be quieter this year with her family’s absence, but our hope is for healing and understanding in the future. Our door and hearts remain open to Eloise, whenever she’s ready to mend fences.
My MIL Told My Daughter the Birthday Cake She Baked Was Disgusting – So I Made Her Seriously Regret Her Words
When Sarah’s 10-year-old daughter, Emma, baked a heartfelt birthday cake for her step-grandmother, Barbara’s cruel rejection shattered the girl’s hopes. Determined to defend her daughter, Sarah orchestrated a series of clever retaliations, turning Barbara’s life upside down.
Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m 35 and recently married to John, who is an absolute gem. I have a lovely 10-year-old daughter, Emma, from my previous marriage.
Woman with her daughter on her kitchen | Source: Pexels
We’ve had a rough go at blending our families, mostly because of John’s mother, Barbara. Barbara is a tough nut, refusing to accept Emma as part of the family. It’s been a constant source of tension.
John is a great husband and father, always trying to make peace. But Barbara? She’s a whole different story. She’s always cold towards Emma, making her feel unwelcome. Emma, on the other hand, just wants to be loved and accepted. She’s a sweetheart, always trying to win Barbara over.
Elderly woman wearing black | Source: Pexels
Emma decided she would bake a birthday cake for Barbara. “Mom, I’m going to make the best cake ever,” she said, eyes shining with hope. “Maybe then Grandma Barbara will like me.”
I gave her my favorite cake recipe, and Emma spent the entire night in the kitchen. She was so dedicated, not sleeping a wink. “This has to be perfect,” she kept saying. She mixed the batter, baked the cake, and decorated it with little flowers and sprinkles. It was beautiful.
A small cake | Source: Pexels
The big day arrived. Emma proudly carried the cake into Barbara’s birthday party. “Happy Birthday, Grandma Barbara!” she said, her voice full of hope and excitement.
Barbara took one look at the cake and wrinkled her nose. “Looks disgusting,” she said coldly. “Only pigs would eat that. You should never do anything with your hands; it looks pathetic.”
Emma’s eyes filled with tears. She ran out of the room, sobbing. My heart broke seeing her so crushed. I wanted to scream at Barbara, but I held back. At the same time, I couldn’t let this go. Emma needed to be defended.
Disgusted Barbra | Source: Midjourney
John tried to smooth things over. “Mom, that wasn’t nice,” he said gently. “Emma worked really hard on that cake.”
Barbara shrugged. “I’m just being honest. Someone has to teach her that people won’t just be nice to you for no reason.”
Emma stayed in her room for the rest of the party, too upset to join us. I went to her and hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” I said. “You did an amazing job. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
A woman hugs her crying daughter | Source: Pexels
Emma sniffled. “Why doesn’t Grandma Barbara like me, Mom?”
I didn’t have an answer. “Some people are just mean, Emma. But you don’t have to listen to them. You’re wonderful just the way you are.”
That night, after everyone left, I lay in bed, fuming. Barbara had gone too far. Emma didn’t deserve this. I decided then and there that Barbara would regret her cruel words. No one hurts my daughter and gets away with it.
An angry woman | Source: Pexels
My mind raced with ideas. I knew Barbara took great pride in her garden. Her roses were her babies. She bragged about them constantly. I’d heard enough of “My roses won another award” to last a lifetime. So, one night, I drove to a nearby farm and collected a big bag of manure. I snuck into Barbara’s garden and spread it all over her precious flower beds.
The next morning, I waited for the call. Sure enough, it came. Barbara was livid. “My garden smells like a barnyard!” she screamed into the phone. I bit back a smile.
Shocked Barbra in her garden | Source: Midjourney
“Maybe it’s just a bad day,” I suggested sweetly.
Barbara’s fury over her garden didn’t end with one phone call. She stormed over to our house later that day, fuming. “Sarah, do you have any idea what’s happened to my roses?” she demanded.
I looked at her innocently. “Oh, Barbara, I’m so sorry to hear that. Maybe it’s just a bad day for the garden.”
Smiling woman | Source: Pexels
She glared at me, clearly not satisfied with my answer but unable to prove anything. “I’ll figure it out,” she muttered before leaving.
But I wasn’t done yet. Barbara had an important dinner party coming up with her snobby friends. She had been planning it for weeks, talking nonstop about the menu she’d prepared. It was the perfect opportunity for my next move.
Barbra plans her dinner party | Source: Midjourney
I knew she was planning to serve a fancy dessert. So, the day before the party, I swapped the sugar in her pantry with salt. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when her perfect dinner turned into a disaster.
The night of the party arrived. I waited eagerly for the fallout. As Barbara’s guests bit into their dessert, the looks on their faces were priceless. Grimaces of disgust spread across the room.
Barbara looked around, confused and then horrified as she realized what had happened. Her face turned beet red as her guests whispered among themselves, clearly unimpressed.
Disgusted woman | Source: Pexels
“Barbara, what on earth is this?” one of her friends asked, pushing the plate away.
Barbara stammered, “I-I don’t understand. It was supposed to be delicious!”
I watched from a distance, feeling a bit guilty but mostly satisfied. Barbara had been humiliated in front of her friends, and it served her right.
Shocked elderly woman | Source: Pexels
But the real blow came later. Barbara loved to gossip, especially about Emma. She often made nasty comments, like “She’s not a real granddaughter” or “Emma will never be part of this family, no matter how hard she tries.” It made my blood boil. So, I decided to give Barbara a taste of her own medicine.
I anonymously tipped off the local community center, where Barbara volunteered, that she had been badmouthing other volunteers and making derogatory comments about the people they were supposed to be helping. The center launched an investigation, and Barbara was asked to step down. The scandal rocked her social circle.
Two elderly women gossiping | Source: Pexels
Barbara was furious, but she didn’t know I was behind it. She called John, ranting about the injustice of it all. “Can you believe they asked me to step down? Me, after all the work I’ve done!”
John tried to calm her down. “Mom, maybe there was a misunderstanding.”
“There’s no misunderstanding! Someone’s out to get me, I know it!” Barbara fumed.
Barbra screams in her living room | Source: Midjourney
Meanwhile, I was busy planning the final act of my revenge. I organized a small family gathering and asked Emma to bake another cake. This time, John and his father, Tom, were there to support her. Emma hesitated but finally agreed. She wanted to show she wasn’t afraid.
“Mom, what if Grandma Barbara says something mean again?” Emma asked, worry in her eyes.
“Don’t worry, sweetie. This time, we’ll all be there to support you,” I assured her.
Woman consoles her daughter | Source: Pexels
The day of the family gathering arrived. Emma nervously brought out her cake, beautifully decorated just like the last one. Barbara opened her mouth to say something snarky, but John cut her off.
“Mom, if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. We’re here to celebrate as a family, and that includes Emma,” John said firmly.
Serious man with folded hands | Source: Pexels
Barbara was left speechless. She knew she had lost the support of her son and husband. Emma felt loved and accepted by the rest of the family. It was a sweet victory.
Barbara shot me a look of pure venom, but I just smiled back sweetly. She knew she had been outplayed, and there was nothing she could do about it. Emma beamed as we all enjoyed her delicious cake together. This time, it was a celebration full of love and acceptance, exactly what Emma deserved.
A sliced cake | Source: Pexels
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