Grandma spends 40+ hours a week babysitting her grandson for free, then her son defends her when his wife criticizes how she financially supports his troubled brother: 'She can do whatever she wants with her money'

Check me out, I'm back in the mountains again in the Eastern Sierras! Huzzah! But as cold as the snow is up here at high altitude, it'll never be as cold as the cold shoulder of my grandma. She was not the "baking cookies" type, nor did she ever offer to babysit us as kids. My mom, luckily, was a stay-at-home parent and took care of us every day; however, whenever grandma was around, she made it clear that she was not going to take part in any of the parenting shenanigans. 

Now, as an adult, I realize how fortunate some other families have it, squandering the loving relationships with their kids' grandparents over silly things like pride or spite. Let me tell you, when it comes to childcare, biting the hand that helps you rear your little ones is a good way to get stuck with an expensive nanny bill, and the burning gaze of the in-laws at every family holiday.