When my granddaughter Sarah’s wedding plans took an unexpected turn, my husband Jim and I had to address her stunning sense of entitlement. What started as enthusiasm for her special day rapidly turned into a lesson in gratitude and respect that neither of us could have predicted.
My granddaughter, Sarah, is getting married soon, and my husband, Jim, and I were overjoyed when she told us the news. We started talking about the wedding right away, thinking about how we could help make it special, but everything changed a few days ago. We received a letter from Sarah that left us both speechless, and I still remember the moment I opened it.
Inside was a $5,000 cheque and a note that felt like a slap to the face. “I want a vacation with my fiancé on my birthday this year,” the handwritten card stated. “Pay for it.” I hope you saved enough after years of giving me cheap trash gifts.” Let me give you some background.
Jim and I have always tried to be available for Sarah. We are not wealthy, but we have donated what we could. We’ve sewn her handmade quilts, given her heritage jewellery, and even helped her with a down payment on a car. We also paid for some of her education expenditures.
We always assumed these things meant something to her. Jim and I sat down at the kitchen table, the letter and cheque sitting between us like a bad omen. My hands trembled from fury and pain. “Can you believe this?” I enquired, holding out the letter to him. Tears stabbed at my eyes.
“After everything we’ve done for her?” Jim’s face was a mask of disappointment. “This is just plain wrong,” he replied, his voice full of grief. “We’ve given her so much, and this is how she repays us?”
I could feel my heart hurting, but beneath the pain, a spark of determination was developing. “We can’t let this go,” I stated forcefully. “She needs to understand that her actions have consequences.” Jim nodded slowly. “You’re correct. She needs to understand gratitude and respect. But how can we make her see that?” We decided to collect everything we’d ever given Sarah. The decision was heavy on our hearts, but we felt it was necessary. We started in the attic, where we stored many valuable artefacts accumulated over the years. “Start with the quilts,” Jim said quietly, opening a big cedar trunk. I had spent months creating quilts for Sarah, and they were nicely folded inside. I ran my fingers over the complex patterns, remembering the long hours I had spent on each stitch. “These quilts were made with love,” I remarked gently, tears threatening to flow.
“I thought she cherished them,” Jim said, placing a consoling hand on my shoulder. “She might realise their value someday,” he joked. We gently folded the quilts and stored them in a huge box. We then went to the guest room, where Sarah frequently stayed. I opened the jewellery box on the dresser, exposing the heirloom pieces I’d given her. Each piece had a story and a memory associated with it. I took up a lovely gold necklace that belonged to my mother.”Do you remember when I gave her this?” I asked Jim while holding out the jewellery. “She wore it to her high school graduation.” Jim nodded, his face sombre. I remember. “It’s a shame she left it behind.” We carefully wrapped the jewellery, wrapping each piece with tissue paper to keep it safe. The box quickly filled with the items she had left behind throughout the years, including the bracelet from her Sweet Sixteen, the locket she wore to prom, and the earrings she borrowed for her first work interview. In the garage, we discovered the old bike we had given her for her tenth birthday.
It was little rusty but still in decent condition. “She loved this bike,” Jim explained, his voice tinted with emotion. “She rode it every day after school.” I smiled regretfully, recalling the excitement on her face when she first noticed it. We wheeled the bike out and put it next to the boxes. Finally, we collected photos and mementos from family travels and vacations. Those photos caught so many events, including Sarah blowing out birthday candles, opening presents on Christmas morning, and laughing at summer barbecues. Each photograph served as a remembrance of brighter times. Jim’s eyes met mine, and understanding appeared in his expression. “And the bill?” Jim nodded and reached for his phone. As he called the bank, I began gathering all of the gifts we’d given Sarah throughout the years. It was difficult yet necessary. I carefully packed the handmade quilts, family jewellery, and other treasured possessions into boxes. Each thing reminded me of happier times, but I pushed those memories aside. We also chose to end our financial support for Sarah’s wedding. I phoned the wedding coordinator to explain our choice. She was taken aback, but understood when I informed her about the circumstances. “We’ve always prided ourselves on being generous,” I informed him.
“But we refuse to be taken for granted.” Next, we wrote Sarah a final letter. Hi, Sarah. We were very offended by your recent letter. We have always loved and supported you, not out of obligation, but out of love. Your words and actions demonstrate a lack of gratitude and respect, which we cannot overlook. We hope that this tough experience will make you think on your actions and understand the value of appreciation and humility.Love is about valuing the people who care about you, not about giving you monetary gifts. We hope you understand our decision and seize this chance for growth. Love you always, Grandma and Grandpa. We wanted her to understand that this was more than simply money and presents. It was about respect, thanks, and the love we had always shown her. We thought that our statements would cause her to reflect on her behaviour and how they affected others.
The fallout was fast. Sarah called us the next day, her voice trembling from fury. “How could you do this to me?” she exclaimed. “You are supposed to love and support me!” “You are ruining my wedding and my life!” I took a deep breath and tried to remain cool. “Sarah, we love you. But love does not imply giving in to every demand. It’s about making you a better person. “You must learn gratitude and respect.”
“You’re cruel!” she exclaimed. “I can’t believe you would do this!” She abruptly hung up, leaving us startled in disbelief. We were aware that our acts would cause sorrow, yet hearing her so upset was still difficult. Over the next few days, we learnt through family gossip that Sarah was telling everyone how “cruel” we were and how we had “abandoned” her. Some family agreed with Sarah, saying we were overly severe. Others, however, reached out to show their support.If you enjoyed this woman’s revenge on her entitled granddaughter, here’s another one! Our youngest granddaughter accused us of choosing a ‘disgusting’ hotel as a gift for her honeymoon, and our lesson to her was priceless. Connie and Jim’s granddaughter, Mae, just married, so they decided to contribute to her honeymoon. However, when they reveal their hotel decision, Mae replies with entitlement, claiming that they wrecked everything for her.
Instead of retaliating, the pair opts to teach her a lesson. I’ve always been the doting grandmother. It was something I looked forward to after having kids. I didn’t expect that I’d post my tale here, but this was too ridiculous to keep to myself. This is how my husband, Jim, and I taught our youngest granddaughter a lesson she will not forget. Our youngest grandchild, Mae, is being married. She has always been a bit of a princess, expecting the finest from everything.
“I’m high maintenance, Gran,” she’d tell me, usually while painting her nails or doing something similar. But because she was the youngest, Jim and I were able to spend the most time with her as our occupations slowed down. So, when her boyfriend Nathan proposed, we were cautiously optimistic. “I don’t think she’s rushing into it,” Jim said as we sat down for breakfast one morning. “But I just wish that she would wait a little longer, you know, give us time to get involved in the wedding.”
