We all need to learn to stop catering to others out of fear while still being respectful to ourselves and others. No is a complete sentence. In this case, you raised a disrespectful brat.
I Refused to Sacrifice My Retirement for My Daughter’s Unplanned Baby

We received a letter from Linda.
Hey Bright Side,
I saved for years to finally enjoy retirement. But my daughter, who is 20 now, had an unplanned baby and needed help. I adore my grandson, and of course, I stepped in. At first, it was small things (diapers here and there, babysitting when she needed rest), but it kept growing. She leaned on me more and more, especially financially.
When I finally told her I couldn’t keep giving money, she smirked and said, “You’ll regret this.” I brushed it off, but the next day I came home and froze. Her bags and belongings were spread out all over my guest room. When I asked what was going on, she just said, “If I can’t get the money, I’ll save some by staying here.”
I feel blindsided. I’ve spent my whole life working hard, and I just wanted to enjoy a little peace in my retirement. I love my daughter and grandson, but I can’t keep being taken advantage of. Am I wrong for wanting my space back?
— Linda
Here’s what we think.

Her stuff would have been thrown out the front door in two seconds flat. Don't play that shit with me Daughter dear you will lose everytime!!!
It sounds like your daughter is very vindictive. She said you will regret this and did the meanest thing she could think of. Not that she was hey mom, I miss you and I'm out of money and I need a place to stay can I please move back? But you will regret this and if I can't have your money I'm taking it. Wth?! Best you can do is this. She is going to go through your mail so hide your bank statements either statements or a p.o. box. Then make a decision: keep your relationship with her or kill your relationship with her. If you kick her out, she is already vindictive, she will stop talking to you and take the baby away. Maybe or maybe not forever but a good long time. If you keep her there, mention you are struggling too and it's so nice to have her there to help with bills and groceries. Make it uncomfortable for her to be there so it is her idea to go. Talk to her about going after the dad for child support. Invite people to the house, maybe from your church to help talk to her about this. Up to you really, but how you choose to progress with determine your future relationship with your daughter.
No you are not wrong. Its ok to help once in a while. Unplanned pregnancy is her problem. She is grown. You already raised her. You let her stay you will be continuing to raise her and your grandchild. You are not her bank. Help when you can. But make her responsible for her actions
I had my first daughter at 19 I NEVER expected my parents to do anything!! I worked 2 jobs and refused to ask for even a pack of diapers!! Granted my parents were thrilled (after she was born) and bought her EVERYTHING (I asked them not to). They did it cuz they wanted not because I asked or demanded!! She is a spoiled brat!! Tell her to GTFO you did not agree to anything! She made the problem she can fix it! Go enjoy retirement girl!!
Number one, change the locks. #2, call the police. You have a trespasser who won't leave. #3 (this may or may not be necessary), get a TRO keeping her away. #4 (this, too, may or may not be necessary) call CPS. But be prepared for the fallout. Put her crap out on the front porch.
Say ok then do what I do when my daughter would stay with me and think she was bringing her latest bum to stay at my home. Make a list of chores to be done everyday and every week BE VERY DETAILED on how you want them done. If she doesn't do them or half asses them change the Internet password. What ever rent is there where you live charge her that amount and charge her for babysitting. If you don't need the money put it up where she doesn't no where it's at save it until you have enough to pay deposit, and several months rent for her. Have an attorney write up a contract including everything rent, babysitting fees, chore expectations, that she moved in without your knowledge and permission while you weren't home because you refused to give her more money. She is basically a squatter. If she refuses to sign start eviction process give her a written notice if she doesn't leave (she won't) then file eviction in court have her served go in front of a judge she will sign or move. However there is a nother thing to find out first, 20, first baby (unplanned), broke, desperate enough to just move in on mom... It's time for counseling she might have postpartum depression even if it doesn't seem like it she could be scared and not sure of herself where she's going how she is going to get there. This could be a cry for serious help. Talk to her before you make any decisions. She may just need her mom
Tell her it's called a condom and she should of used one or picked a better partner or quit fuckin if you can't afford to pay for your choices and their consequences that's not at all your responsibility to help raise the kid tell her get out
Say : "YOU ARE NOT EVEN A GUEST IN HERE, GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE !!" too much entitled even if she stay in guest room. Bet she will nag you more with her "living in guestroom style"
Tell her to move out. She'll tell you that you can't see your grandbaby but, she'll need you to watch him. Make it on your schedule. But, get her out before it comes to eviction.
Linda, thank you for sending us such an honest and emotional letter. First, please know that setting boundaries doesn’t mean you love your family any less; it simply means you’re protecting your own well-being. You’ve spent decades working toward retirement, and you have every right to enjoy it without feeling pressured or manipulated.
That said, conversations like this are tough. It may help to sit down with your daughter and calmly explain what support you can realistically offer (whether that’s occasional babysitting, small essentials, or simply emotional support) and where the line has to be drawn. If she insists on staying without your consent, you may need to set firm house rules or even seek outside guidance. Remember: being a loving parent and grandparent also means modeling self-respect and healthy boundaries.
Comments
I would kick her out and the baby too. I would tell her it's not my responsibility to care for your child. You made your bed hard so now you must lie in it. I didn't make my bed hard, that's why we're not lying in the bed together... You best find another job and a reliable daycare so you can care for your child and have aenough money to do so.
I would never let they do that to me
Please respect your peace. You could force her out. Which is what I would do. She hasn’t learned to be responsible and she will milk you for all your time and money. She needs to stand on her own two feet, otherwise you’ll be a basket case. I’m the same age and I WOULD NOT PUT UP WITH HER!
Your daughter made the irresponsible choice to have a baby. She could have been responsible with her sexual activity. She needs to seek social services and the like. It's not your responsibility to take care of her and her baby at all. She has no right to move in either. You will not get any peace. She's going to just up and leave the baby with you whenever she feels like she doesn't want to parent. That's not fair to you in retirement at all.
What an entitled brat! Don't let her unpack her boxes. If she arrived the very next day she was living somewhere before. That means she's still able to move back. Bye bye
Related Reads
My MIL Refused to Babysit and Secretly Put My Kid in Daycare—My Payback Tore Her Apart

12 Stories That Show Kindness Is Quiet but Unbreakable

My MIL Humiliated Me Before My Wedding Day—So I Gave the Perfect Reply

16 Stories That Prove the Night Has Its Own Strange Magic

I Refused to Cover My Grandson Tuition—I’m Done Being Humiliated by Him

My Pregnant Roommate Tried to Kick Me Out—She Wasn’t Prepared for My Next Move

I Refused My Friend’s Classes, and She Took My Refusal Way Too Seriously

I Told My Stepson He Can’t Join Our Family Vacation—My Kids Deserve a Drama-Free Trip

My Boyfriend Let His Friends Humiliate Me, So I Gave Him a Taste of His Own Medicine

I Refused to Be Underpaid—Then I Discovered My Boss’s Secret Plan

12 Moments That Inspire Us to Stay Kind, Even When Life Turns Cold

My Son Wants to Kick Me Out on the Street to Accommodate His New Family


