Our grandchildren are lovely, but we just dont have the strength to keep looking after them.
They say children bring happiness. The same is often said for grandchildren. I completely agree, of coursejust as long as you dont have too many, and you can actually afford to support them. My wife and I have a daughter. It happened that when she was just nineteen, she told us she was expecting a baby. She ended up having twins. She got married not long after. I honestly thought everything would fall into place.
As youd expect, life turned upside down for us. Our daughter was a young mum with two babies. Her husband wasnt much older, and his wages were nothing to write home about. Most of the responsibility for supporting all of them fell squarely on our shoulders. My wife and I had to take extra shifts just to make ends meet for everyone. Wed start before sunrise and finish late at night.
For a time, the young couple lived with us. Mornings meant dragging myself out of bed for work, completely exhausted from spending half the night up with the twins, just so our daughter could get some rest. Naturally, my health started to deteriorate.
Three years passed like thateventually, things got a bit easier. The children grew, and our daughter and her husband began to stand on their own feet. Then, one day, our daughter told us she was expecting again. I told her honestly that it might be better to consider another optionraising two is hard enough. But she was determined to have the baby, and so she did. After that, it was the same old story: more money needed, one more mouth to feed. My wife and I threw ourselves back into work. Even though our son-in-law was earning a bit more now, how could he support five people on his salary alone?
My own health took a turn for the worsemy wife had a stroke, and I began having problems with my heart. I realised our bodies simply couldnt cope with such a burden any longer. I told my daughter theyd have to find another way forward. And just as I was coming to terms with it all, she hit me with something that left me speechless: she was pregnant with their fourth child.
I didnt even know how to respond. What were they thinking? It seems as though they simply expected her mum and me to keep carrying them forever. But we just arent able to do it anymore. Im at a loss about what to do, and I really dont want people judging us for not helping our only daughter. The truth is, weve helped as much as we possibly can.
