Our Grandchildren Are Driving Us Up the Wall—We’re Refusing to Babysit Them Any Longer

They say children bring joy. And grandchildren much the same. Yes, I believe thatso long as there arent too many, and you have the means to care for them. My husband, Peter, and I have one daughter. When she was nineteen, she stunned us with the revelation that she was pregnantand planning to keep the child. She delivered twins, then married.

It felt as though our lives had been thrown upside down. A young girl thrust into motherhood with two babies, her new husband barely out of school, earning scarcely enough to get by. We became their lifeline. Peter and I took on extra shifts, stretching ourselves thin to keep our daughter and our grandchildren afloat.

They lived under our roof for a while. The alarm would ring, and Id set off to work before dawn, then spend my nights racing around the twins so my daughter could rest. Its hardly surprising my health began to falter.

Three years passedsomehow, theyd found their feet, the children grew, and just as we started to hope things were settling, my daughter rang to say she was pregnant again. My first reaction was bluntI told her, perhaps, she should consider not having the baby. Two children were already tough enough. But shed made up her mind; she wanted this child.

She gave birth and the cycle started anew. Suddenly, there was yet another mouth to feed, and the money we scraped together just slipped away. Peter and I, once more, buried ourselves in work. Even though our son-in-law was earning better now, how could he possibly provide for five?

It all took its toll. Peter suffered a stroke; I began having chest pains. Our bodies simply couldnt cope with the strain anymore. I told Samanthaour daughterthat from here on, shed have to manage.

She shattered meshe called to say she was pregnant for the fourth time.

I was speechless. Did they truly think Peter and I could carry on supporting them forever? Surely, they must see we cant keep this up, but I worrywhat will people say if we step back from helping our only child? We have given everything we can. I dont know how to carry on.