Over the next few days, I acted as though everything was normal. Brittany and I baked cookies, decorated the Christmas tree, and cuddled up for movie nights. But inside, I was boiling. I couldn’t believe Todd and Rachel would stoop so low as to badmouth me in front of their child.
When it was time to drop Brittany back home, I gave her a big hug, told her how much I loved her, and said goodbye with a heavy heart. As I got back into my car, I opened her Paw Patrol bag and retrieved the voice recorder.
Sitting in my driveway, I played back the recording.
At first, it was just typical family noise—Rachel telling Brittany to clean up, Todd asking what was for dinner. But then, their voices became sharp and mocking.
“Why does your grandma have to call every other day? Doesn’t she have her own life?” Rachel snapped.
“She’s just lonely,” Todd replied. “It’s not our fault she’s so clingy.”
Rachel laughed. “Yeah, Brittany, don’t listen to her old stories. She’s just trying to make herself feel important.”
My heart sank. They weren’t just venting—they were intentionally poisoning Brittany against me.
Furious, I decided it was time for a confrontation. I drove to their house, recorder in hand.
When Todd opened the door, he looked surprised to see me. “Mom, what are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to both of you,” I said, pushing past him into the living room.
Rachel appeared, holding a mug of coffee. “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice tense.
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I took a deep breath. “I know what you’ve been saying about me to Brittany,” I said, holding up the recorder. “And now I have proof.”
Their faces paled. Todd stammered, “Mom, it’s not what you think—”
“It’s exactly what I think!” I snapped. “Do you have any idea how hurtful it is to hear your own son and daughter-in-law tearing you down in front of your granddaughter? After everything I’ve done for this family, this is how you treat me?”
Rachel tried to interject, but I held up my hand. “Save it. I don’t want excuses. What I want is for you both to reflect on the example you’re setting for Brittany. If you don’t respect me, fine. But don’t drag her into your pettiness.”
They stood in stunned silence as I turned to leave. At the door, I paused. “Brittany deserves better parents than this. Fix it, or you’ll lose more than just my respect—you’ll lose the chance for her to have a loving, supportive family.”
I walked out, my heart heavy but my resolve firm.
That evening, I got a call from Todd. “Mom,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “You were right. We were wrong. We’ll do better. I promise.”
Time will tell if they keep that promise, but for now, I’m holding onto hope—for Brittany’s sake, if nothing else.
