This is not to sound harsh, but I want to ensure I've read everything correctly. Your daughter is 28, and you are 68, which means you waited until 40 years of age to give her life, rather than let that ship sail and be child-free. You are now over retirement age, while she is still a young woman in her 20s with a child, and you feel she is being selfish? I'm not here to judge, but having a child at 40 with no other family connections or siblings for her insight is very selfish. You are her mother, and that comes with attachments to the life you created, as well as your grandchild. You had to have known that by the time she had a kid or chose to have one, you would either be deceased or too old to help in any way. 68 is old. You want to retire at a time when the world is collapsing and falling inward. Life happens, I get it. My daughter will be 28 this year, but I (not of my planning) had her at 16. Which means I'm in my early to mid-40s. She has a son who will be 3 this year. Some ships, when they've been in the water for a while, need to dock and not take any more passengers out to sea. I believe that you are upset because you made the choice at 40 (old enough to know better) to have a kid, not thinking about creating a family and what would happen when she created her own family. The problem is not the baby daddy not in sight, it's that you are leaving the child you had alone with a child, at a time when most families step in with support and help. The baby daddy didn't have her; you did, and at 40. You weren't some mindless teen who didn't know what was going on, or in your 20s, just living. You were a whole past middle-aged woman. At the end of the day, the choice is yours.
I Absolutely Refuse to Delay My Retirement to Save My Spoiled Daughter and Her Son

We got a letter from Marge, 68, who spent decades working, raising her daughter alone, and helping her grandson. Now that she’s ready for peace, her daughter’s tantrums and ultimatums turn her life upside down. Read Marge’s story, she needs your thoughts and advice.
Here’s a letter Marge wrote to us:
Hi Bright Side,
I’m Marge, 68, retiring after 46 years of work. Finally, I can relax, garden, maybe try dancing, without being called back to cover someone else’s responsibilities. But there’s my daughter, Emily, 28. Single, a “beauty influencer” whose vlog makes nothing, with a 3-year-old son. Sweet kid, loved, but Emily doesn’t even know who the father is. When he was born, she cried in my arms, promising to change. She didn’t. Instead of daycare, I’ve been the fallback. Instead of basic needs, she buys makeup; instead of parenting, she posts hashtags. I’ve been paying for everything: rent, groceries, kid’s nutrition, therapy, toys, Internet, until last month, when I said: “I’m done. I’m retiring.”
She called me and begged to keep working, accused me of abandoning her and ruining three lives: hers, the baby’s, and her “career”. I said no. Then came the meltdown: “Prepare for the worst, mom!”

Next day, I was shocked when I got a call from a man claiming Emily had left the baby with him. He might be the father. She’d given him detailed instructions and gone to a city event. Panicked, he found my number on a medical form. I drove three hours, picked up my grandson, and faced a flood of texts: “You pushed me to this. You owe me help. I’m trying to build something for all of us.”
Now I realize I might be the only adult my grandson can count on. Was I heartless to step back, or foolish to ever think she’d grow up? What would you do?"
Bright Side community had a lot to say about Marge’s heart-wrenching situation:
- Sunny_Daze87
Honestly, I don’t blame you at all, Marge. You’ve been carrying everyone for decades. It’s okay to step back. - PixelPenguin_42
Wow... I feel for the kid, but your daughter sounds completely unprepared. You can’t fix her, and it’s not your responsibility anymore. - TeaTime404
I get why she’s upset, but leaving a toddler with a man who might be the father while attending events? That’s beyond irresponsible. You did the right thing.

I would inform child services about the at-risk behavior of a mother with no job
- c0ffeeaddict99
I think you’re being too hard on her. She’s trying in her own messy way. Maybe a middle ground? - LemonPoppy$
I’d honestly be scared too. You’re right to prioritize your own retirement. You can’t rescue everyone forever. - quietstorm__21
Your daughter is an adult. You helped enough. She’ll have to face the consequences of her choices.

The daughter needs to get a real job, one in which she receives a paycheck. OP has worked her entire life and at 68 has EARNED the right to retire. Her daughter needs to grow up, get a job that pays, and raise her son. OP's daughter is entitled, immature, and irresponsible! She needs to do right by her child and not expect her mother to be her ATM!
- NeonBasil7
But Marge... the baby is three. He needs stability. I get retirement, but maybe some structured help instead of cutting everything off would’ve worked better? - astro_nova
I support you 100%. She treated your generosity like a given and still behaves like a teenager. You’ve earned a break. - hummingbird_88
This is complicated. I can’t fully side with either of you. She messed up, but he’s a child caught in the middle. Can you get temporary help for him while still stepping back?
Advice from Bright Side team:

Give.him up for adoption. U r too old to start looking after a toddler. Go no contact with ur daughter n let her fend for herself.
Dear Marge,
It’s clear you’ve been carrying more than your share for decades, and stepping back doesn’t make you heartless; it makes you human. Set firm boundaries with your daughter and communicate them clearly, so she can’t guilt you into undoing your retirement. Consider arranging professional childcare or a trusted support network for your grandson, so he has stability without relying solely on you. Focus on reclaiming your life, but keep channels open for guidance, not control, to help your grandson thrive.
Some choices break your heart no matter what you decide and sometimes, love demands more sacrifice than we think we can bear. At Bright Side, we recently received a letter from Nina, a 55-year-old woman whose life suddenly demanded she choose between her lifelong dream and her precious five-year-old granddaughter. Nina found herself in an agonizing battle between loyalty, love, and self-respect.
This is not just a letter. It’s a mirror, reflecting the silent struggles, so many women carry inside. Nina’s story will pull you in, break you apart, and make you question what it truly means to love... and to live. Read Nina’s powerful confession here.
Comments
The mistake you made was in picking up your grandson. This guy is probably the father. It is his responsibility. Your daughter is unable to parent because she views her son as a burden. She does not want to be a mom. She is weaponizing her child against you. Let her find backup child care, whatever that may be. It's her first attempt at not using you as a crutch
You've caused this problem. Why on earth have you been supporting her for three years? Did you give her any notice that you were going to pull the plug on her gravy train? You should have given her a couple of months notice to get a job and support herself like normal people do.
This is simple. She abandoned her baby. You need to call CPS and tell them what she did. Then you need to get an attorney and apply for custody. Understand your daughter is unstable not able to be a parent. Yes I know you want to retire. You still can. Unfortunately it would appear that you will be rasing your grandson.
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