When Jen called Eloise to check in after the wedding, her granddaughter accused her of being cheap. “Seriously, Grandma? An air fryer? That’s the cheapest thing you could find on my registry!” Eloise said.
Jen and her husband, both in their 70s, were loving grandparents to five grandchildren—three girls and two boys. They prided themselves on always being there for their grandkids whenever needed. A longstanding family tradition marked their grandchildren’s weddings: they would purchase the cheapest item on the wedding registry and gift a secret $40,000 check afterward.
For years, the tradition remained a well-kept secret among the family
Jen, thinking the gift was practical, replied, “It’s useful.” But Eloise shot back, “Useful? Come on, Grandma. Everyone knows you have the money. I just can’t believe you’d be this cheap with me. It’s embarrassing.”
Frustrated by Eloise’s reaction, Jen revealed the truth. “Yes, you’re right. We are cheap, old, and useless. But what you don’t know is that we planned to give you a $40,000 check before the wedding.”
Eloise’s response only made matters worse. “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 you give me this? It’s like you don’t even care,” she said before hanging up.
Following the argument, Jen and her husband decided not to give Eloise the money, breaking the family tradition for the first time.
Eloise Learns the Truth
A week later, Eloise called again, having learned from family members about the $40,000 tradition.
“We felt that, after your reaction to the wedding gift, it wouldn’t be right to go ahead with the check,” Jen explained.
“So, you’re punishing me? Because I got upset about an air fryer?” Eloise pleaded.
“It wasn’t about the air fryer,” Jen clarified. “It was how you spoke to us—the disrespect. That’s not something we expected or can support.”
Through tears, Eloise tried to defend her behavior. “I was stressed, Grandma. Planning a wedding is hard, and I just snapped. I didn’t mean any of it.”
Jen responded firmly but kindly. “We understand weddings are stressful, but words and actions have consequences. We hoped you’d see the value of family and love over material things.”
Eloise, desperate, begged for forgiveness. “Can’t we just forget this happened? I need that money, Grandma.”
When Jen stood her ground, Eloise threatened not to attend Christmas, accusing her grandparents of excluding her. Jen reassured her, saying, “We love you very much. This isn’t about cutting you off. We just hope you’ll reflect on this and understand why we made our decision.”
Another Viral Grandparent Story Sparks Debate
Meanwhile, another story about a grandmother’s unconventional approach to gifting went viral on TikTok. DeeDee, from the TikTok account MoreThanGrand, shared her decision to avoid constantly bringing gifts for her grandchildren.
Living far from her family, DeeDee explained that she wanted her visits to focus on creating meaningful memories, not material expectations. “I’m cheap and don’t want to waste money on things that will be cast aside,” she said. Instead, she spends time reading, playing games, and creating traditions that her grandchildren look forward to.
While some praised her approach, others criticized it. “I had a grandma like that—I thought of her as miserly,” one commenter said, while others applauded her for prioritizing connection over consumerism.
What do you think about these two stories? Let us know your thoughts.
Another Viral Grandparent Story Sparks Debate
Meanwhile, another story about a grandmother’s unconventional approach to gifting went viral on TikTok. DeeDee, from the TikTok account MoreThanGrand, shared her decision to avoid constantly bringing gifts for her grandchildren.
Living far from her family, DeeDee explained that she wanted her visits to focus on creating meaningful memories, not material expectations. “I’m cheap and don’t want to waste money on things that will be cast aside,” she said. Instead, she spends time reading, playing games, and creating traditions that her grandchildren look forward to.
While some praised her approach, others criticized it. “I had a grandma like that—I thought of her as miserly,” one commenter said, while others applauded her for prioritizing connection over consumerism.
What do you think about these two stories? Let us know your thoughts.