Wondering how bad this is on the scale of parenting no-nos. And whether others have found themselves getting their DC a gift or trip in response to a personal loss or social problems/rejection?

Our situation is that 2.75 y/o ds's grandmother (long story) does not want to see him anymore. He used to talk to her several times a week and he loved flying to New York to visit. Anyway, since our last trip out there in June, DS has mentioned at least weekly, often daily, that he wants to fly again to New York to visit grandma. I have tried to fob him off with "Grandma is too sick to visit right now" but DS has an incredible ability to perseverate.

Finally, last night I said in desperation when the fly to new york came up for the 100th time, "We can fly to Seattle. We can fly to China. We can fly to see Mickey Mouse." There was complete silence. Then, "We fly to see Mickey Mouse?" DS is not going to forget this and I think the odds are now quite high we will be going to the land of the mouse in the next 6-8 months . . .

Has anyone else succumbed to guilt in this way? And how bad is it (truthfully) for one's DC? I am worried about spoiling DS but part of me does feel with that with the sh*tty extended family he was dealt its not the worst thing to provide some extra fun and trips.