Only Grandma Gets Spoiled Grandson to Study Well, Years Later He Visits Her in SUV – Story of the Day

A grandmother is determined to straighten out her spoiled, selfish and lazy grandson. She hatches a plan to turn him into a responsible, hardworking young man.

I'm sure we've all heard older people say, "In my day..." Maybe you've even heard yourself say it. Were things really all that different in 'our' day? Maybe they were, and maybe it's not all 'young people's' fault.

At least, that's what Cynthia thought when she pondered the problem of her grandson Peter's behavior. Peter was sixteen and close to graduating high school, and he'd become every parent's nightmare.

Peter stayed out all night with his friends and didn't bother about studying. He'd crashed three cars since he was awarded his driver's license, and was now demanding a powerful motorbike.

Cynthia had seen it all unfolding when Peter was just six, and his doting mother refused to reprehend him when he threw a tantrum because he wanted more cake.

"Poor Pete!" cried Cynthia's daughter, handing the boy another slice of cake. "He's just hungry, mom! And dinner is in two hours' time, it won't spoil his appetite."

Some people start by doing the right thing for the wrong reason.

Cynthia frowned. "It's not his appetite you're spoiling, Rita," Cynthia said. "It's Pete! You told him no more cake, and now you've given it to him. You've just taught him a tantrum will get him what he wants. More importantly, you've taught him HE is the one with the power, not you. What happens when you finally have to say 'no' to him?"

"Oh, mom!" Rita cried. "You're so old-fashioned! Pete is a sweet boy, and he loves me!"

So Cynthia never said another word, but she watched sadly as Peter's behavior became more and more extreme and his parents lost all control of the situation.

"Mom, he won't work!" Rita cried. "And if he doesn't have good results on his SATs, he won't be able to go to college, no matter how rich we are!"

Cynthia listened in silence and resisted the temptation of saying 'I told you so.' "You raised five kids, mom," Rita said. "How did you manage? I remember George and Sam were a handful, but you straightened them out!"

"Yes I did," Cynthia said. "But they were my children. What worked with George and Sam will not work with Pete."

"Why not?" asked the desperate Rita.

"Because you and your husband would be undoing all my good work!" exclaimed Cynthia.

"Oh, mom," Rita said. "We won't! We promise. We're so desperate! Pete is throwing his life away, and we can't stop him!"

"If you promise to do as I say, we may be able to save him," Cynthia said. "Here's the plan..."

The next day, Pete's parents asked him to go over to his grandmother's house because she had something important to discuss with him. "I don't have time for that!" Pete said arrogantly. "Mom, give me some money..."

"No," Rita said firmly. "No money. Go talk to your grandmother. She's the one in charge of your finances now."

Pete was looking very sulky when he sauntered into his grandmother's house that afternoon. "What's going on?" he demanded. "I have things to do, and I need $100!"

"Hello, Pete," Cynthia said, as cool as a cucumber. "Please sit down."

"I don't want to sit!" Pete snarled. "I told you, I'm in a hurry..."

"Hello, Pete," Cynthia repeated. "Please sit down."

Pete slumped into an armchair and kicked at the coffee table's leg. "Get on with it!" he said crossly. "I'm waiting."

Cynthia repeated again: "Hello, Pete!" Then she sat calmly, in silence, waiting.

"Oh, what the hell! Hello, grandmother," Pete said in a mocking tone. "How are you today?"

"I'm fine, my dear, but you are not," Cynthia said. "I understand that you have lagged behind in your studies and have acquired some bad habits."

"Is that so?" sneered Pete. "And I suppose you're going to give me a big lecture and make me into a good boy!"

"Yes," Cynthia said. "But it won't be a miracle, will it? I know you Pete, and you love money, don't you? How would you like to live the way you want, buy what you want without having to ask your parents for every cent?"

"Yeah..." Pete said. "That would be great. How does that happen?"

"Easy," Cynthia said. "I am prepared to transfer $3 million to you when you turn 21. You'll be young, rich, and independent."

"So what's the catch?" asked Pete suspiciously.

"For the next four years, you drop the bad-boy act," Cynthia explained. "You get a part-time job, study and get good grades, and be loving and respectful to your parents..."

"Why do I need a part-time job?" asked Pete.

"Because from now on, your parents won't give you a red cent," his grandmother told him. "It's one of my conditions for you getting the money. Do you agree?"

Pete hesitated. "Three million dollars?" he asked. "Free and clear and I can do what I want?"

Cynthia nodded. "That's the deal."

Pete agreed, of course. The next day, he was at the mall looking for a job, and most of the money he earned he spent on a tutor, not partying.

He found work at a café, and he turned out to be hardworking and VERY motivated. The café owner was very impressed. He didn't know that Pete was working for $3 million!

As for school, Pete was doing very well indeed, once he caught up with all the work he'd missed. Instead of joyriding with his friends, he took to hanging out at the library on the weekends.

"I'll party when I get that money," Pete promised himself. "I'm going to party NON-STOP for a month!" But to get that money, Pete had to get into college, so he focused on his studies.

Pete's parents couldn't believe the transformation in their son's attitude, but they quickly realized that Pete still had a long way to go. He was doing the right things for the wrong reasons...

When Pete turned 18, in his last year in high school, his boss at the café promoted him. Pete went home and told his parents. "He promoted me!" he cried. "He says I have a talent for the business!"

"That's nice, Pete," his dad said. "And how do you feel about it?"

"I like it," Pete said. "I like working with people, yeah...It's fun."

Pete's parents were stunned. Their son described work as fun, and his pride in his promotion was obvious. Was Pete changing? He was. He became more cheerful and more helpful.

Since he wasn't constantly demanding money from his parents, he was pleasant company too. Rita was excited, but Cynthia was cautious. "Wait and see," she said.

Pete went off to college. To his parent's surprise, he started a small company organizing events for his fellow students while he was working on his business degree.

What Pete was learning, he was testing in his little company, which suddenly wasn't so little anymore. Two weeks before his 21st birthday, Pete came home on holiday.

His parents were planning a huge party, and he was eager to see his old friends, but the first person he visited was Cynthia. "Pete!" Cynthia cried, hugging him."You look so good!"

Pete did look good. He was tanned and fit, and he wore nice clothes too. "I have to dress sharp for the customers, grandma!" he said. Cynthia peeked out the window.

"Is that your car?" she asked. "That big SUV?"

Pete grinned proudly. "It is!" he said. "And I bought it cash, with my own money!"

"Wow," his grandmother exclaimed. "Business is really going well!"

"I've been projecting the revenue for the next five years, gran, and if all goes well..." Pete started to explain.

"I have your check, Pete!" Cynthia interrupted. "I haven't forgotten."

"Check?" asked Pete, bewildered.

"The $3 million?" Cynthia said. "So you can go party and never work again?"

"I forgot about that!" Pete exclaimed. "No, I was telling you, I want to expand my business to ten different campuses across the East Coast. I want to earn my OWN money!"

Cynthia listened, delighted by his plans for the future, and smiled. "The plan worked," she thought. Pete was well on his way to becoming a great man.

What can we learn from this story?

• Some people start by doing the right thing for the wrong reason. Pete started working hard for his grandmother's $3 million bribe, but he quickly took pride in his abilities and his achievements.
• It's important to teach children self-respect and responsibility so they can become respectful and responsible adults.

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a young woman who is expecting to inherit from the wealthy grandmother who raised her and is stunned when she returns from a cruise with a younger husband.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.