Thanks for that. There is no way my granddaughter can stay at her business and be safe. I am just too afraid of her getting into something and getting hurt. I have asked my DD to try and come home more. We will see - unfortunately I am not real hopeful! She definitely uses her as a pawn and threatens to take her away, but each time I have called her bluff she backs down because she needs my help. It is just overwhelming at times to be the main caregiver and have someone else step in and change things because they don't like the way you are doing them!
Sugar,
I hear you. You might want to consider making some boundaries in stopping some of the unwanted changes that your DD is doing concerning your GD. Can you brainstorm, and perhaps come up with a few ideas on how that might look to you?
Here are a couple brainstorm ideas that come to my mind without knowing the specifics of your scenario. While getting your DD to pick up GD earlier might be problematic. Perhaps, regulate when DD can drop of GD by setting a fixed number of hours you are willing to watch GD on a given day, I know some small business owners work 16 hour days, this is impractical for you - so, offer her up to 8 hours of child care (a typical work day for most in the West), or pick your GD up from a paid child care place as most child care places closes 4-6 PM until your DD can come home and pick her up, this should be even less than 8 hours., and if she picks her up later, let's say 8 PM, tell your DD she cannot drop off GD at the earliest noon (if necessary, come home 5 minutes before noon, so you aren't home if she tries to drop her off earlier with the legitimate excuse you need to do grocery shopping, or taking care of errands than you cannot do with GD in tow).
Another idea to consider... I know the father is not in the picture, but is there anyone on the father's side of the family that you can trust with your GD, like the dad's mother that can share this burden with you?
Any other ideas you might have?
Just some suggestions.
Be sure to do some self-care to fill your cup, whatever that might look like for you. For me, I do nice long hot showers, get lost in a movie/tv series/book, exercise outside (ride bike or ebike) with the sun and wind on my face. Some do a spa treatment (that can get pricey, so I limit those), or eat something sugary (icecream / chocolate / etc.- my waistline does not like this one), do a girls night out/etc.
Take care with self-care.