Elderly Couple Secretly Saves Money for Grandkids After Daughter’s Death, Leaving Son-in-Law and His New Wife ‘Furious’

Two grandparents quietly spent years saving money for their late daughter’s children, never imagining that their decision would ignite tension across the wider blended family.

Sharing her story on Reddit, the grandmother explained that her daughter died when her two children were still young. After her passing, the couple discovered a small trust their daughter had set aside for the kids. Realizing it wouldn’t be enough to truly secure their future, the grandparents began regularly adding to it.

“We decided to make sure they would receive a very comfortable amount from us once they reached 18,” she wrote. “This was to help with college, or pay for a house, or to allow them the ability to train for their dream careers.”

Over time, the fund grew into a substantial safety net. But because their widowed son-in-law eventually remarried and became part of a blended family, the grandparents made a deliberate choice to keep the extra savings to themselves.

“We never told our son in-law,” she said. “This was done so we would not be asked to split the money between all the children and so our grandchildren would not be prioritized less by their father or his wife.”

“This money was not supposed to act as child support or money for the household. It’s for my grandchildren,” she emphasized.

For years, the plan remained a secret. The eldest grandchild received her money after graduating and chose not to mention it to her father.

The younger grandchild, who graduated more recently, placed his share in a high-interest savings account and decided to pursue a less conventional career path. That decision raised questions at home — and eventually led to the truth.

When the son-in-law finally learned about the savings, the reaction was immediate. His wife was described as “furious,” and he felt deeply hurt.

“My son in-law was hurt we chose to do this instead of giving something to all the children,” the grandmother recalled. “He said us not telling him added to his hurt because he had hoped we would want all the children to have the same start in their adult lives.”

“He felt like we should have told him so he and his wife could plan accordingly,” she added.

The conflict escalated to the point that the younger grandchild moved in with his grandparents. Both grandchildren have tried speaking to their father, but he continues to maintain that their grandparents “should have told him” about the money from the start.

Many commenters who responded to the post supported the grandparents’ decision, saying it was reasonable for them to focus their financial help on their biological grandchildren and that they were under no obligation to provide for the son-in-law’s other children.

“I’m sorry for the loss of your daughter, but I feel you need to point out to your grandchildren’s father that the playing field between his kids will never be equal,” one commenter wrote.

“Your grandchildren had to grow up without their mum, his other kids have two parents,” they continued. “The money you’ve given to your grandchildren is basically you giving them what your daughter would have if she were still here.”