My son asked me to post this story because he is sure the Internet is going to tell me I am in the wrong. Am I?

I recently babysat my grandchildren (5 and 4) for four nights and five days so my son and his wife could attend a wedding in Mexico and spend a few days on vacation. While I had the kids, I was invited to a birthday at Disney World and wanted to go. It didn’t even occur to me to run it by my son or daughter-in-law, as I had the kids for an extended period, and obviously, they knew they would be going where I went. But when they returned and found out, my DIL burst into tears. She furiously said I shouldn’t have taken my grandkids to Disney World without asking them first.

Here’s what happened:

It was day three of babysitting, and the kids were getting a bit restless. My friend called to invite me to her grandson’s birthday party at Disney World. The timing seemed perfect. The kids would get to enjoy a magical day out, and I would catch up with some old friends. So, I packed up some snacks and sunblock, loaded the kids into the car, and off we went.

The day was wonderful. The kids were ecstatic, their faces lighting up at every sight and sound. They met Mickey and Minnie, rode on the teacups, and indulged in cotton candy and ice cream. Seeing their joy made me feel like the best grandma in the world.

However, when my son and daughter-in-law returned from their trip and I told them about our Disney adventure, the atmosphere changed instantly. My daughter-in-law’s face turned pale, and she burst into tears. “You took them to Disney World without asking us?” she exclaimed.

“I thought they’d enjoy it,” I said, confused by her reaction.

“But we wanted to be the ones to take them for the first time,” she sobbed. “You’ve ruined our chance to see their first reactions to Disney World.”

My son tried to mediate, but it was clear he was also upset. “Mom, you should’ve asked us first,” he said gently. “We had planned to take them next year for their birthdays. It was supposed to be a special family memory.”

I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. I had no idea that this was such an important milestone for them. I thought I was doing something nice for the kids. I didn’t realize the significance it held for my son and daughter-in-law.

I tried to apologize, explaining that I didn’t mean to overstep or take away their special moment. “I just wanted the kids to have a good time,” I said, my voice breaking. “I didn’t think it would hurt anyone.”

Despite my apology, the tension lingered. My daughter-in-law looked heartbroken, and my son seemed torn between his love for his kids and his loyalty to his wife. I was left feeling like I had inadvertently shattered a dream they held dear.

So here I am, sharing this story with the internet. Was I in the wrong for taking my grandkids to Disney World without asking their parents first? I thought I was doing a good deed, but now I’m questioning my actions. Maybe I should have considered their feelings and plans. What do you think?