Dear Carolyn: Four years ago, my son and daughter-in-law moved back to our hometown so they could have family support while raising their young kids. I babysit my two sweet granddaughters free of charge twice a week and am the go-to babysitter for other events as they come up. It’s been a wonderful experience for all of us.
Now, my granddaughters are approaching school age and my daughter is pregnant with her first baby. I’d like to offer her the support I’ve offered my son, and my husband and I have decided to move closer to her, at least for a few years.
My daughter-in-law is furious. She says that she and my son sacrificed career progress to move closer to us, and that if my daughter wants that benefit, then she should also be the one to move. She says they wouldn’t have “upended their lives” if they’d realized we were going to “abandon” them.