I've raised my granddaughter from birth. Her mother was always too busy with her own life. When Savannah was 8 months old her mother moved out. She said she had no way of taking care of her.

Right now the baby is almost three years old. Her mother came to take her to the park on Mother's Day and then called to say that she wasn't bringing her back.

I know that I have no choice in this as she didn't legally abandon her and, legally, she isn't an unfit mother. I can see the baby any time I want and let her stay the night or weekend. Every time she is here, she is real distant at first and then everything becomes like it was before. When it's time to leave, she screams and cries that she wants to stay at "her house" (my house).

This gets so bad that I end up crying. All her mother says is that she'll get used to it.

My main question is whether it's better to stay away, hoping that she will form a bond with her mother, and take the chance that she'll think I don't love her or want to see her. I'm afraid this will tear up her heart.

I tried picking her up and dropping her off at daycare, but when she heard that her mother would come later, she screamed, "Me don't want mommy, me want nanny!" (Me.) She was hysterical. The teachers at the daycare center were crying. I kissed her and told her I loved her. I left and cried all the way to work.

I knew then that I would do whatever was best for the baby even if it meant not seeing her until she forgets that she ever lived with me.

Please send me some kind of answer as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Rita