My daughter Abby turned eight last weekend, and she’d been counting down like it was Christmas, her birthday, and summer vacation all rolled into one. She couldn’t stop talking about the cake, the balloons, and which friends would be there. Abby’s a kid who says thank you even for socks—gratitude has never been her problem.
So when my mother-in-law, Sharon, walked in with an oversized gift bag and announced, “This one is SPECIAL,” I didn’t think twice.
Abby tore into the wrapping… and froze. A Nintendo Switch. She clutched it to her chest, breathless.
“Thank you so much, Grandma! This is the best present ever!” she said, beaming.
Sharon’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“No, sweetheart. Not like that,” she said. The room went quiet. “You need to say, ‘Thank you, Grandma Sharon, for buying me something this expensive even though I don’t always deserve it.’”
Before Abby could respond, Sharon took the gift back. Tears filled Abby’s eyes. “Grandma… please… it’s my birthday present.”
Continue reading on the next page…