this is what we call misdirected anger. it doesn't always make sense....

I would imagine that, for most parents, watching someone deliberately be cruel to their child would be punishment. Sounds like grandma and grandpa are into some fucked up head games.

this sounds like something my dad would do. not give us presents to make my mom suffer (his logic). sorry OP. your parents, unfortunately, are as crazy as my father. FYL

My father used to do this when my parents newly split up (14 years ago). Whenever he punished or upset my brother and I, it deeply upset my mother knowing he would do that. Misdirected anger, doesn't make sense.

Maybe because the grandparents know the father will need to deal with the crying, complaining, and sadness.

people are strange that way..

"Ok we need a Idea how we can get back to our stupid son." - "We could just punish our Granddaughter, who did absolutely nothing to us and most likely won't understand why we do it, by not giving her any presents." - "FUCKING BRILLANT JIM!" Well i hope someone told her why her grandparents are such dumbasses.

Her parents so that would be son in law

edit: never mind.

Or not their son at all if their daughter is no longer with their granddaughters father.

It's never mentioned if the TE is a he or she. The only things said were "My parents[...]act of revenge against her father." so might as well be a statement referring to himself.

Apparently something so bad that it affected one generation of his family.

Or new grandparents

I don't really think a gift can cover up the fact that her grandparents don't love her enough to get over the fact that they disapprove of her father. That's just cruel, and it must hurt.