# Grandma's childcare crisis

> Grandma's grandkids left alone after daughter-in-law dropped them off.
- Title: Grandma's childcare crisis · Slate Magazine | Shortify
- Summary: Grandma's grandkids left alone after daughter-in-law dropped them off. Grandma was not at home when daughter-in-law left grandkids at her gate, leading to…
- Keywords: grandma, daughter-in-law, grandkids, cps, family, parenting, Grandma's, childcare, crisis, Slate Magazine
- Source: Slate Magazine — https://slate.com/advice/2026/09/parenting-advice-grandma-childcare-snafu.html?via=rss
- Author: Nicole Chung
- Published: 2026-09-30T17:05:02.063+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: grandma, daughter-in-law, grandkids, cps, family, parenting
## Grandma's grandkids left alone
My daughter-in-law dropped my grandkids (ages 8 and 10) at my house gate but left without checking if I was home.
## Grandma was out of town
I was on a mini-break with a new male friend and had taken a break from home, so I wasn’t home when she dropped them off.
## Neighbor called CPS
My neighbor saw two children alone on the porch and called child protective services, escalating the situation.
## Daughter-in-law furious
My daughter-in-law is now angry at me for not answering her calls or keeping her informed about the kids.
## Son's accusation
My son screamed that I abandoned his kids to 'go whoring with some wrinkly old guy' after the incident.
## Grandma's response
I told my daughter-in-law I know they’re upset but it wasn’t my fault and I won’t discuss until they speak respectfully.
## What happens next
After calming down, we need to make a communication plan to avoid future childcare issues and rebuild trust.
## Key takeaway

Grandma was not at home when daughter-in-law left grandkids at her gate, leading to CPS involvement and family conflict.