That night, I had a long talk with my son. I explained that generosity works only when paired with honesty. We agreed the children would still get what they truly needed—but through me directly, not as secret handouts. My daughter-in-law wasn’t pleased, but over time she realized that respect and openness mattered more than shortcuts. And my grandkids? They still come to me, but now it’s for stories, hugs, and the kind of wisdom no money can buy.