Grandma’s Boastful Pride: “In Reality, She’d Only Seen Her Grandson a Handful of Times”

Naomi had always been the kind of woman who thrived on admiration. She loved the feeling of being in the spotlight, and she would go to great lengths to ensure that everyone around her saw her as the epitome of perfection. Whether it was her cooking, her housekeeping, or her role as a grandmother, Naomi wanted everyone to believe she was the best.

Her son, Arthur, had moved to another state for work several years ago. He had married Leah, a sweet and gentle woman who was the complete opposite of Naomi. Leah was humble and never sought attention, which only made Naomi’s need for validation even stronger.

Arthur and Leah had a son, James, who was now five years old. Due to the distance and their busy lives, Naomi had only seen James a handful of times. But that didn’t stop her from boasting about her relationship with him to anyone who would listen.

At family gatherings, Naomi would regale her relatives with stories of her supposed close bond with James. “Oh, James just adores his grandma,” she would say with a proud smile. “He always asks when he can come visit me again. We have such a special connection.”

In reality, James barely knew his grandmother. The few times they had met, he had been shy and reserved around her. But Naomi’s need to feel important overshadowed the truth. She would show off pictures of James on her phone, claiming they were recent when in fact they were years old.

One Thanksgiving, the family gathered at Naomi’s house. She had spent days preparing an elaborate feast, determined to impress everyone with her culinary skills. As the relatives arrived, Naomi greeted them with her usual air of superiority.

“Welcome, everyone! I hope you’re ready for the best Thanksgiving dinner you’ve ever had,” she announced.

As they sat down to eat, Naomi couldn’t resist bringing up James again. “Arthur and Leah couldn’t make it this year,” she said with a sigh. “But James sent me the sweetest video message. He said he misses his grandma so much.”

The relatives nodded politely, but some of them exchanged knowing glances. They had heard Naomi’s exaggerated stories before and were beginning to see through her facade.

After dinner, Naomi’s sister-in-law, Leah (another Leah), pulled her aside. “Naomi, I know you love James, but maybe you should be more honest about your relationship with him,” she said gently.

Naomi bristled at the suggestion. “What do you mean? James and I are very close.”

Leah shook her head. “I think you’re trying too hard to impress everyone. It’s okay if you don’t see him often. It doesn’t make you any less of a grandmother.”

Naomi’s face flushed with anger and embarrassment. She couldn’t bear the thought of anyone seeing her as anything less than perfect. “You don’t understand,” she snapped. “I have to be the best.”

As the evening wore on, Naomi’s mood darkened. She couldn’t shake Leah’s words from her mind. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that her need for validation had driven a wedge between her and her family.

When Arthur called later that night to wish her a happy Thanksgiving, Naomi tried to sound cheerful. But there was a sadness in her voice that he couldn’t ignore.

“Mom, is everything okay?” Arthur asked.

Naomi hesitated before answering. “I just miss you and James,” she said quietly.

“We miss you too,” Arthur replied. “But you don’t have to pretend everything is perfect. We love you just the way you are.”

Naomi hung up the phone and sat in silence for a long time. She realized that her need to feel like royalty had cost her something far more valuable: genuine connections with the people she loved.

From that day on, Naomi tried to be more honest with herself and others. But the damage had been done. Her relatives were wary of her boasts, and it took a long time for them to trust her again.

In the end, Naomi learned that true pride comes from being authentic and vulnerable, not from putting on a show. But it was a hard lesson learned too late.