My husband and I, in our 70s, have a tradition of gifting our grandkids the cheapest item on their wedding registry along with a $40,000 check the day before the wedding. This gesture is meant to support them, and we ask for discretion to avoid family issues.
When our youngest granddaughter, Eloise, got married last October, we sent her an air fryer early due to distance. She called, furious, accusing us of being cheap. Shocked by her disrespectful reaction, I revealed the planned cash gift in an attempt to explain our tradition. However, she dismissed it, claiming we didn’t care about her.
Despite our hurt, we later sent her a china set but decided against giving her the $40,000, feeling her reaction and disrespect didn’t warrant it. Recently, after learning from her cousins about the cash gift, Eloise called again, accusing us of discrimination. We explained our stance, emphasizing that it wasn’t about the air fryer but her behavior. While she pleaded and blamed stress for her actions, we stood firm, hoping she’d reflect on her words and learn the importance of respect and gratitude.
Now, Eloise is boycotting Christmas, supported by her mother, our daughter-in-law, who calls us unreasonable. While it saddens us, we believe our decision is justified, especially given the significant support we’ve already provided for her education and wedding. Love and respect are vital in our family, and we hope this serves as a learning moment for Eloise. Our door remains open for reconciliation whenever she’s ready.
