Anyone in-laws (especially grandmother) plays the grandchildren off against each other?

[Notagain1981]

My son's grandmother constantly does this. My son who is 18 in a couple of days is constantly played off against his cousins. His father's sister kids. His grandmother is never interested in him when we go there, always gloating about them. She constantly picks faults in my son like his spots etc. Its got the point he doesn't want to to go there no more which I dont blame him. To top it off he received a card off her today for his 18th birthday, no money like she normally gives him. His dad past away 6 years ago so I can't say anything to him about it. I dont know whether to cut contact.

Yeah cut contact.

No need to expose your son to someone who is just mean to him.

Although as I am writing this surely at 18 it's his choice who he sees and spends time with. I would just let him know that you don't expect it and if he wants to see her that's up to him.

Why would you subject your child to this treatment from his grandparent? I would tell her exactly why he doesn't want to see her. And at 18, he's old enough to make his own decisions about who he sees.

Actually I would have a quite chat to her and tell her how she makes him feel, and she might realise how lousy awful she is.