Lee Hye-jung, Moved by 45-Year-Old Daughter's Pregnancy but Firmly Declares, "I Won't Help with Childcare"

Culinary researcher Lee Hye-jung, while being more joyful than anyone else at the news of her 45-year-old daughter's pregnancy, revealed a firm stance that she will not take charge of raising her grandchild. As she had been waiting for her daughter's pregnancy in her heart for a long time, she burst into tears the moment she received the ultrasound photo, but when the topic of childcare arose, she drew a line, saying, "One must raise their own child."

On the 7th, Lee Hye-jung revealed through her YouTube channel the scene of her and her husband preparing a baby shower for their pregnant daughter. The daughter is 45 years old and became pregnant three years after marriage. It is known that she is currently six months pregnant.

Lee Hye-jung shared her extraordinary emotions while recalling the moment she first learned of her daughter's pregnancy. She said, "My daughter is 45, and she became pregnant three years after getting married," adding, "I couldn't express it, but I was worried." Although she did not show it on the surface, as a mother, she felt both the longing for her daughter's pregnancy and worry about the pregnancy occurring at a late age.

The moment her daughter took her hand and personally informed her of the pregnancy was even more special. Lee Hye-jung recalled the time, saying, "One day, my daughter took my hand and handed me an ultrasound photo," and "I don't know how much I cried." It was a moment when the worries she had held in her heart for a long time turned into joy.

The baby in the womb of the daughter, who is currently six months pregnant, is known to be a girl. Lee Hye-jung was happy, saying, "They say it's a beautiful girl," and shared that she told her daughter, "Make sure you give birth to a daughter just like you and raise her." Considering the long relationship between mother and daughter, it was a meaningful statement.

As an expectant grandmother, Lee Hye-jung also carefully prepared gifts for her granddaughter. She showed her affection for the soon-to-be-born granddaughter by preparing a pink diaper cake and a large amount of baby clothes. Seeing this, the daughter also expressed her gratitude, saying, "The baby has met wonderful grandmother and grandfather."

However, the warm atmosphere changed slightly when the topic of childcare came up. When the daughter hinted that she wanted her mother to look after the grandchild, Lee Hye-jung firmly refused. She did not simply pass it off as a joke but clearly stated her principle of not engaging in 'twilight parenting.'

The daughter revealed the conversation at the time, saying, "Mom declared she won't look after the baby." She continued, "When I asked, 'Can't you look after it for a little while?' Mom said, 'Sure, leave it to me. I'll feed her nothing but chocolate, snacks, and candy. I'll make her fat,'" which drew laughter.

Lee Hye-jung's position is that loving a grandchild and directly raising a grandchild are separate issues. She emphasized, "One must raise their own child themselves." This is interpreted as her intention to be a grandmother who gives unconditional love to her granddaughter, but not to take on the childcare responsibilities that the parents should handle.

Recently, so-called 'twilight parenting,' where grandparents take care of grandchildren instead of their children, has become a social phenomenon beyond just a family issue. As dual-income households and the burden of childcare intersect, many families rely on grandparents for upbringing; however, as the generation seeking to live their own lives after retirement increases, conflicts between family members are also occurring regarding how much the childcare burden of grandparents should be recognized.

Lee Hye-jung's remarks also touch upon this reality. While waiting for and celebrating the birth of her granddaughter more than anyone else, she intends to separate her own life from the childcare responsibilities of the child generation. Lee Hye-jung's honest attitude is drawing attention in that loving feelings and the responsibility of childcare do not necessarily need to be expressed in the same way.

Lee Hye-jung, who even shed tears at the news of her daughter's pregnancy at the not-so-young age of 45, is now preparing to welcome her granddaughter. However, instead of jumping directly into childcare, she intends to be faithful to the role of a 'grandmother' who cherishes her granddaughter with delicious food and gifts. The pleasant yet firm childcare view of Lee Hye-jung, who has become an expectant grandmother, is evoking empathy along with laughter.

Read the original (Korean)