When my sister-in-law invited my kids to spend a week at her spacious home—complete with a pool, games, and endless snacks—I thought it was a generous and exciting opportunity. But after days of radio silence and one desperate message from my daughter, I rushed over unannounced… and what I saw left me absolutely stunned.
Candace, my sister-in-law, lives in a beautiful six-bedroom house on a large piece of land. She had called to invite my 10-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son to stay for a week with her and her daughter Mikayla, who’s 12. The setup sounded like a kid’s dream—poolside fun, video games, trampoline bouncing, and summer freedom.
She assured me it was no trouble and that Mikayla could use the company. I was genuinely touched. I packed the kids’ bags, included $150 each for spending, and even gave Mikayla the same amount to be fair. I dropped them off, full of gratitude and high hopes.
The first few days passed without a single text, call, or photo. At first, I brushed it off—maybe they were having too much fun to check their phones. But something felt off. I finally messaged Candace, who replied enthusiastically, saying they were loving the pool and treats.
Then, on the fourth day, a message from my daughter lit up my phone:
“Mom, come get us. Aunt took our phones. This is my only chance.”
I didn’t hesitate. I jumped into the car, heart racing the whole way. Nothing could have prepared me for what I found in the backyard.
My son was scrubbing pool tiles on his knees. My daughter was dragging a large trash bag across the lawn. Mikayla? She was lounging poolside with a drink, scrolling through her phone like a VIP.
Then I saw the clipboard on the table:
Daily Chore List (To Earn Pool Access + 30 Mins of Cartoons):
– Mop all bedrooms
– Do the dishes
– Fold laundry
– Clean the bathroom
– Take out trash
– Skim the pool
– Serve lemonade to guests
– Help with BBQ prep if Mikayla has visitors
…and more.
This wasn’t a summer visit—it was unpaid child labor.
When Candace spotted me, she acted like nothing was wrong. Claimed my kids offered to help. But when Annie whispered that Candace had threatened to take their money and make them sleep in the garage if they didn’t work, I saw red.
I got the kids, demanded their phones, and left without another word.
The next day, I sent her an invoice:
Child Labor Charges: $600
(Itemized list included. Payment due unless she wanted photos sent to her book club.)
She paid within an hour.
I used the money to treat my kids to two full days at an amusement park. No chores, just joy, junk food, and wild rides. That night, cuddled up with pizza and movies, they told me how Mikayla had daily guests—and my kids were forced to clean up after all of them.
Candace tried to justify it all with texts and voicemails, saying she was “teaching them responsibility.”
No, she was exploiting them.
But my children learned something far more valuable that summer:
That their mother will always come when they need her.
That their time, energy, and effort deserve respect.
And that family doesn’t mean obedience—it means protection.