My son invited me on a family trip to Italy — but my daughter-in-law expected me to stay in the hotel babysitting their 3 kids. I told her, “I’m not a walking daycare.” She snapped back, “Then don’t come!”
What she didn’t know was that I had already booked my own first-class tour of Italy with my friend. While they juggled kids, I explored Florence, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast — free, joyful, and guilt-free.
Later, my son apologized, and we met for dinner in Rome. The grandkids hugged me, and even my daughter-in-law seemed softer. In the end, I learned that setting boundaries isn’t selfish — it’s how you keep your peace.