She Resented Her Mother-In-Law For Spoiling Her Kids Until This Happened
GodUpdates Contributor
February 18, 2016
A Different Look At Her Mother-In-Law
If you are a parent or grandparent, you can probably relate to the meme below. Credit: Pinterest While parents are out to set and enforce the rules, grandparents have been there, done that. They get to be the fun ones. And usually, it drives the parents crazy! It certainly drove Tina Plantamura crazy when her mother-in-law would indulge her 3 young boys in their every whim. But then something happened that gave her a completely new perspective. Read on for Tina's heartfelt tribute to her mother-in-law. . .Credit: Facebook Oh Mother (in-law), I Miss You “You always stole my thunder. You gave them everything they wanted. You never said no when they asked for anything. A second helping of dessert. Candy before dinner. A few more minutes in a bath. Money for the ice cream truck. How I struggled to show you respect and appreciation while trying to make sure you didn’t spoil my children. I thought you would turn them into selfish brats by giving them everything they wanted. I thought they might never learn to wait, to take turns, to share, because you granted their wishes as soon as they opened their mouths and pointed. [rsnippet id="3" name="Article-Ad"] You held each one of my babies long after they fell asleep. Didn’t you understand that I needed them to learn to fall asleep on their own? You ran to them as soon as they made the tiniest sound. How would they ever learn to self soothe? I resented you for buying the best and most expensive gifts on their birthdays and on Christmas. How could I possibly compete with you? How do you think it feels to know that the very best presents, the ones they’ll be the most excited and aglow about, are not from their parents? And how they loved afternoons spent with you. You made their favorite things for dinner. Three different meals for three different little boys. And you always had a little surprise. A present, candy or a special treat. I didn’t want them to associate you with gifts and sweets. I thought they should love you for you. I tried to tell you this, but you didn’t listen. You continued to indulge them in every way possible. I spent a lot of time wondering why you did all these things and how I could get you to ease up. I know grandmas are supposed to spoil the kids then send them home, but you were…ridiculous… Until you were gone. I had to hold my boys and tell them that their grandma died. It didn’t seem possible – you were supposed to be there for all the other special moments: proms, graduations, weddings. But they lost their grandma too soon and too suddenly. They were not ready to say goodbye to you. RELATED: A mother writes a letter to her ex-husband's new girlfriend During those years when I wished you’d stop spoiling them, I never thought about how much you loved them. So much that you showed it in every way possible. Your cooking. The gifts. The candy and sweets. Your presence. The way you could recount every detail of a special moment, whether it was a perfect catch in the outfield, a sweet and slightly off-key note sung at a school concert, or birthday candles lighting up a smile. Your grandmotherly love for them knew no bounds. Your heart poured love from every place possible – your kitchen, your pocketbook, your words, and your tireless arms. It’s pointless to dwell on regrets, but I often think about how I had it all wrong. I was so wrong in how I perceived your generosity. My kids, now in their teens, miss you dearly. And they don’t miss your gifts or your money. They miss you. They miss running to greet you at the door and hugging you before you could step in. They miss looking up at the bleachers and seeing you, one of their biggest fans, smiling and enthralled to catch their eye. They miss talking to you and hearing your words of wisdom, encouragement and love. If I could speak to you one more time I would tell you that every time a precious moment steals my heart, every time I watch them arrive at a new milestone, and every time they amaze me with their perseverance, talents, or triumphs, I think of you. And I wish that they could have you back. Come back and love them one last time, like no one else in the world but a grandmother could. Bring your sweets and surprises. Reward them with gifts for the smallest accomplishments. Painstakingly prepare their favorite meals. Take them anywhere they want to go. All and only because you love them. Oh, how I wish with my whole heart that you could come back. Sit for endless hours in the bleachers with me. Come back and watch his determined stance, his all out effort, and his anxious rituals. We could study my boy’s face and both know without a doubt if he’s confident, intimidated, thirsty or bored. Come back and listen to the sound of his saxophone and watch his face with me. We both know which songs are his favorite just by studying his eyes while he plays. Watch him with me as he shifts in his seat, makes eye contact with friends, and sighs with relief after the end of each song. Come back and hear his voice as the bellowing bass in the high school choir. Delight in how he sings with his whole heart and soul. His green eyes bright with passion, then gently closed for the longer notes. With tears in our eyes I could glance your way and know that no one adores him quite like you or me. Come back and watch him walk in his cap and gown. Watch the wind blow his hair away from his face, and be awestruck with me as we glimpse the man he is becoming. Stand with me as we, without a word exchanged, simultaneously wonder how the years tumbled by so fast. The more I long for you to come back, the more I realize that in a way, you never left. I understand now. I know you loved them in every way you could. I know that being their grandma gave you joy and purpose. And of course I know that you can’t come back, but I do know that your love for them will always remain. Your love built them and sheltered them in ways that cannot be described. Your love is a big part of who they are and what they will become as they grow. For this, and for every treat and gift and every time you held them too long or consoled them too much or let them stay up too late, I will always thank you. And I will wish a million times that you could do it all again.” [rsnippet id="2" name="ArticleAd-300x250-3"]
Check out these heartwarming 'thank you' letters to stepparents!
h/t: Love What MattersToday's Devotional
A Prayer for Determination When You Feel Depleted - Your Daily Prayer - January 29
When you're running on empty but life won't slow down, this prayer will help you lean into grace that carries you when strength runs out.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Determination When You Feel Depleted - Your Daily Prayer - January 29
When you're running on empty but life won't slow down, this prayer will help you lean into grace that carries you when strength runs out.
Past Stories
January 2026
- What Began as a DNA Test Became a Father-Son Reunion Years in the Making
- A Simple Flea Market Visit in Kentucky Leads to an Incredible Family Reunion With the Past
- She Found a Lost Wallet on the Subway, Not Knowing How Returning it Would Change Her Life
- Supercentenarian Celebrates Her 111th Birthday and a Life Well Lived With Family and Friends
- Finding Love Again at 78, This Loving Couple Met at Church and Married Four Months Later
- Siblings Are Heroes After Saving Their Bus Driver and Keeping the Other Kids Calm
- Brave Father Runs Back Into Burning Home to Rescue His Daughter From House Fire
- The Power of Your Mouth
- Born in the Middle of World War I, This 108-Year-Old is Still Going Strong
- Diagnosed With Bone Cancer, Young Soldier Reunites With the Dog He Loved Overseas
- Baby Boy Born in a Carl's Jr. Parking Lot After Parents Didn't Make it to the Hospital On Time
- Landlord Surprises His Tenants By Offering Free Rent in November and December
- Birthday Boy Saves Friend From Drowning at His Own Pool Party
- His Girlfriend Had Sweet Memories of Bass Pro Shops, So That's Where Her Boyfriend Proposed
- Proud Parents Get a Surprise Visit From Their Soldier Son After Over a Year Apart
- Into the Deep End
- 93-Year-Old Grandfather Travels 40 Hours to Surprise His Grandson on His Wedding Day
- Trapped in a Burning Car, She Honked for Help, and a Brave Officer Saved Her Life
- Texas City Offers Something Special and Heartwarming With Their 'Grandma Stand'
- At 100, Wisconsin Navy Veteran Founded a Church and Still Serves as a Crossing Guard
- New York Police Officer Reunites With Woman He Helped on a Cold Winter Day
- When They Feared Losing Their Newborn, They Prayed for a Miracle, Then He Pulled Through
- Family Battling Daughter’s Rare Illness Gets the Perfect Secret Santa Surprise
- When a Loyal Customer Didn’t Show Up, This Chef Followed His Heart and Saved Him
- When a Comment Hits Deeper Than Expected
- 67-Year-Old California Man Saves His Family From Fire After Jumping From 2nd Floor Window
- Hiker is Rescued at Utah's Arches National Park After Getting Stuck in Quicksand
December 2025
- 2,397 Golden Retrievers Gather Together in Buenos Aires and It's Way Too Cute
- Dog is Found and Rescued After Running Away From California Airbnb
- Young Boy Was Only 5 Years Old When He Started a Christmas Card Campaign For Veterans
- California Family Launches Pizzeria to Help Their Daughter With Special Needs Thrive
- Gary Sinise on Giving Gold Star Families Hope Through ‘Snowball Express'
- Off-Duty Paramedic Jumps in and Saves 7-Year-Old Girl After Her House Catches On Fire
- Three Virginia First Graders Save Their Teacher After She Started Choking On Her Food
- 81 Years Later, Two WWII Veterans Meet And Discover They Survived the Same POW Camp
- Coma Survivors Turned Sweethearts Get Engaged at the Hospital Where it All Began
- After a Scary Emergency Surgery, This Dad Made it in Time to See His Son Being Born
- Baby Girl Born in a Missouri Buc-ee’s Parking Lot After Parents Can't Make it to the Hospital in Time
- A Dad Saves His 12-Year-Old Daughter After She is Covered By a Collapsed Sand Hole
- When a Graduation Photo Went to the Wrong House, Strangers Became Family
- After 20 Long Hours at Sea, One Family’s Safe Return Shows God Was Near All Along
- School Bus Driver’s Split-Second Decision Saves 4-Year-Old From Lake Owasso
- Minnesota 9-Year-Old Sets Up a Free Compliments Stand, Encouraging Her Community
- They Said He Might Not Survive, but God Had Other Plans, Teen Burn Victim Is Finally Going Home
- In Their Deepest Grief, a Family Looks to God for Hope After Losing Their Son
- Students Learn Sign Language to Sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Their Deaf Therapy Dog
- Teen Scouts Spend 2 Hours Carrying Injured Hiker to Safety After Finding Her on Mountain
- Born at Just 1.3 Pounds, This Tiny Miracle Baby Is Finally Heading Home From the NICU
- Couple Who Just Celebrated Their 83rd Anniversary Share the Key to Their Long Marriage
- Mom Thought Her Son Was Dead, But God Worked a Miracle, and His Life Was Saved
Top Artists
Top Music Videos
Chris Tomlin Chris Tomlin - Holy Forever
Universal Music Group Women Who Worship - Thank You Jesus For The Blood
Chris Tomlin Chris Tomlin - Is He Worthy?
Cody Carnes Cody Carnes - Firm Foundation (He Won't)
Chris Tomlin Chris Tomlin’s Powerful Live Rendition of ‘The First Hymn’ Will Stir Your Soul
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.