When I walked into my house, I found a neatly folded envelope with my name in Jessica’s handwriting, which I assumed was a thank-you note for watching Luke. Instead, it contained an itemized list charging me for things like $5 for snacks, $7 for using the TV, and even $20 for using the guest bathroom. I was stunned, my anger rising as I read each line, feeling reduced to a stranger in my own son’s home after spending the weekend cooking, cleaning, and caring for Luke out of love.
Furious and hurt, I drafted a calm but firm message to Jessica, expressing my disbelief and insisting our relationship remain rooted in family, not money. Her brief, dismissive apology only deepened the strain, leaving our once-warm connection cold and distant. I still babysit Luke, but the hurt lingers, and I’m left wondering if I’m overreacting or if I have every right to feel disrespected—unsure of how to move forward without letting this fracture our family further.