Grandma reads 15-year-old granddaughter's diary despite being repeatedly told to stop, forcing mom to move daughter away from her: ‘You lost the right to be alone with my child’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
May 27, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

When I was a kid, I kept my diary locked and hidden inside a pillow that I would sleep on every night. To be honest, I didn't hide my diary this way because I was afraid someone would find it and read it; I trusted my family, and especially my parents, to respect my privacy and boundaries. I mostly did it because I thought it was cool and added some mystery to my life. Kids' logic, you know?

I can't imagine what it would be like if I had feared someone would take my diary and read it. It wasn't as if I was a secret agent with some deep, dark past, but I confided a lot in that diary, and I would never feel comfortable in my own home had I known that some else decided to violate my privacy and read it. And I'm sure many would feel the same. Being a parent is understanding that you cannot know everything that goes on in your kids' minds. 

Which is why I imagine the mother in the story below decided to do what she did in order to protect her daughter. Keep scrolling to read the full story to know what I mean by that…

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    Cheezburger Image 10510587392
    via Alena Ozerova

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    I caught my mom reading my teenage daughter’s diary. Again.

    My daughter is 15. Sensitive, smart, and introverted. She journals almost every night. It's her way of processing the world. She trusts me to
    via Professional_Past862
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    respect her space. I always have. My mother, on the other hand...
    via Professional_Past862
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    We live with her temporarily. Financial reasons. My mom is helpful in some ways, but she's always been nosy. I've caught her reading my
    via Professional_Past862
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    daughter's diary before. I told her, firmly, to stop. That it was a boundary. That it was not okay. She cried, made herself the victim, and promised never again.
    via Professional_Past862
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    Last week, I came home early from work and saw her on the couch reading it. No shame. No apology. Just said, "You should see the
    via Professional_Past862
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    things she writes. She's depr sed. She needs help." I told her to stop. She said, "I'm her grandmother, I have a right to know what's going on."
    via Professional_Past862
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    Cheezburger Image 10510586880
    via FatCamera

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    No. She doesn't. She broke my child's trust. My daughter hasn't written in it since. She told me, quietly, that she feels
    via Professional_Past862
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    violated. That she doesn't even want to stay in the house anymore. We're moving next month. I told my mom she lost the
    via Professional_Past862
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    right to be alone with my child ever again. And I meant it.
    via Professional_Past862
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    Little-and-angry When I was younger my mom read anything and everything she could get her hands on of mine. I tried every now and again to keep a journal but
    via Little-and-angry
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    ended up resorting to making random entries in planners, on sticky notes, school notebooks, etc. The point of this being, thank you for taking this seriously
    via Little-and-angry
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    and doing what you can to preserve your daughter's privacy. I wish someone could've stood up for me like that!
    via Little-and-angry
  • 15
    Snoo79474 On the sofa reading it? She wanted everyone to know she was reading it. That's horrible. And a great way to ensure her granddaughter never trusts her.
    via Snoo79474
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    MotherofBook Boundaries are so important, and trust at this age affects the way the relationship will build from here.
    via MotherofBook
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    I think it's would be good for you to double down and show her that she can trust you, even if she is having issues with her grandma.
    via MotherofBook
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    Maybe look into getting a diary with a lock or a little box she can put it in. Just as a physical representation of security.
    via MotherofBook
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    Puzzleheaded-Cup-687 Your mom took something so important from your daughter... something your daughter had with HERSELF. I know you already know this, but how sad.
    via Puzzleheaded-Cup-687
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    I'm glad you recognize how messed up this is. Assure your daughter she will have this part of herself back when it's just the two of you again. :(
    via Puzzleheaded-Cup-687
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    ThatsltlmOverThis My mother did that when I was a kid. And she's stumped as to why I never trusted her or told her anything.
    via ThatsltlmOverThis

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family drama privacy aita kids mother grandma reddit story parenting family grandparents daughter Reddit women diary parents children Father
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