My DIL told me three times:Ā āDonāt bring anything.āĀ So I didnāt ā except toys for my grandkids.
At the party, every guest had food, and then she called me out loudly:Ā āMust be nice to show up empty-handed!āĀ I wanted to disappear.
Then my granddaughter, holding one of the toy microphones, said:
āMommy, you told Grandma not to bring anything. She listened.ā
The yard went silent. Karen froze. Guests chuckled.
Later, Emma whispered to me during the fireworks:
āGrandma, you brought the best thing ā the truth.ā
ā¤ļøĀ And in that moment, I finally felt seen.