Imagine giving a wedding gift to your beloved granddaughter, only to be accused of being cheap. This happened to my husband and me recently. We’ve always been generous with our grandchildren, providing both emotional and financial support, but our gesture was misunderstood.
As proud grandparents, we have a tradition for our grandchildren’s weddings. The day before the big day, we give them a check for $40,000 and a small present from their wedding registry, usually the least expensive item. Last October, our granddaughter Eloise got married. We sent her an air fryer, the cheapest item on her registry, not anticipating the reaction that followed.
When Eloise received the air fryer, she immediately called us, furious. She accused us of being cheap and insensitive, unaware of the $40,000 check we had planned to give her. It hurt to hear her words.
I tried to explain our tradition, but Eloise was too upset to listen. She felt betrayed and believed we didn’t love her enough to give her a more expensive present.
Despite the accusations, we decided to give Eloise the $40,000 check but added a china set as a reconciliation gesture. However, Eloise’s anger continued, and she even threatened to skip Christmas.
We remain steadfast in our decision, hoping Eloise will eventually understand our actions were driven by love, not a lack of generosity. Our hearts and doors are always open to her. This incident has taught us the complexities of grandparenting, emphasizing that love and support matter most.