I Started a Small Business at 65, but My Family Says I Should Just Babysit

Dear Norah,

Thank you for reaching out to us and sharing your story. We understand how difficult this situation must be, especially since it feels like your son is forcing you to choose between your grandchild and your hobby.

Don’t give up the part of your life that makes you who you are just to keep someone else comfortable. What your son and DIL are really showing you isn’t about gaming, it’s about control. They’ve come to see your time as an extension of their convenience, and your new hobby disrupts that.

The healthiest thing you can do right now is draw a clear, kind boundary. Tell your son that your love for your grandson hasn’t changed, but you’re no longer available to be “on call.” You deserve the same respect for your time that any working adult gets.

Let your actions speak. Continue gaming, keep your business growing, and invite your grandson into that world when possible.

One day, he’ll see that his grandmother wasn’t choosing between family and passion. She was showing him that self-respect and independence are worth protecting, no matter your age.