A kind-hearted grandmother found a sweet way to get revenge on her daughter-in-law, who would show up unannounced to babysit her kid. Although grandmothers are always willing to help, here are some ways you can make them feel appreciated for their efforts.
A little girl and her grandmother smiling | Source: Shutterstock
A woman shared a story of her mother-in-law's revenge on one of her daughters-in-law on Reddit." My mother-in-law recently performed such a beautiful but small petty revenge, I had to share it here," she wrote.
She described her mother-in-law as one of the sweetest people, always willing to help her family. However, this particular daughter-in-law would take advantage of her kindness when babysitting her child.
During the school year, the kid spent time in daycare, and during the holidays, the parents opted not to enroll her on summer daycare, and instead, rely on the grandmother to help.
The problem was that the mother sometimes dropped off the child without warning or checking if her mother-in-law was available. One day, she came unannounced just as the grandmother was about to leave to do her errands.
Her kind heart did not allow her to say no, so she took in the kid with a smile. However, she knew how to teach her daughter-in-law a lesson. The grandmother made sure the kid was fed and well-rested by putting the kid down for a nap.
Instead of waking the child after an hour as usual, she let the kid sleep for almost three hours. This meant the parents had to deal with an active child who ended up staying up until 1:00 a.m.
Commenters praised the grandmother for getting her sweet revenge, all while being a doting grandmother. But some Reddit users thought it would be better for her to be honest with her daughter-in-law in the future.
Best Ways to Show Grandparents Appreciation
It is an absolute privilege for some parents to have their children's grandparents alive and live close to them. Often, grandparents are more than happy to help babysit the kids, but there needs to be a way for them to know their efforts are appreciated.
A grandmother holding her granddaughter | Source: Shutterstock
Having someone like a grandparent take care of your child comes with immense comfort, and one of the ways of showing appreciation is by offering them compensation.
Taking care of children is a lot of work, and for grandparents, it can take a toll on their bodies, so having an honest conversation about payments is one of the ways to let them know that you understand the labor that goes into child care.
Three generations of women smiling | Source: Shutterstock
Another way is to always be prepared for challenges. If a parent knows their children's grandparent has health issues, finding activities that will not strain their body must be considered.
So taking the initiative to plan activities like swimming, where a lifeguard is present, doing at-home crafts, or going to the playground would give grandparents a helping hand and make babysitting a bonding experience rather than a job.
A little girl and her grandmother baking | Source: Shutterstock
Taking the time to pay for activities also makes it easy for the grandparents to babysit. Children usually want to play every game under the sun, so keeping them active helps balance the day, and the grandparents can step in with simpler tasks like reading a book.
It takes a village to raise children, so allowing grandparents to step in also means giving them the authority to be in charge. There might be rules that you need your kids to follow, but those can be easily communicated to the grandparents.
A grandmother and a grandchild laying in the grass | Source: Shutterstock
To avoid mishaps like letting the kids sleep for three hours during the day, give the grandparents instructions on how your routines look, as they may differ from how they parent.
At the end of the day, grandparents are family, so it is also important for them to know it will be safe for them to eventually step down from their babysitting duties. It is crucial to give them a safe space to say no.
Mother and daughter laughing | Source: Shutterstock
This also includes being considerate of their schedules and plans and understanding when they cannot babysit. Allowing grandparents to enjoy their time alone will build close relationships with their children and grandchildren.