It started as a sweet favor—watching the grandkids “every now and then.”
But for Nise, a grandmother who thought she was simply lending a hand, that favor quickly snowballed into an unpaid, full-time role she never signed up for.
And when she finally asked to be compensated for her time, the reaction was colder than she could have imagined. Locked doors. Radio silence. A relationship suddenly hanging by a thread.
Was she overstepping—or just saying out loud what no one wanted to hear?
The Unspoken Job
Nise had been regularly babysitting her daughter-in-law Rachel’s two children from a previous relationship—plus the baby Rachel shares with Nise’s son, David.
At first, she didn’t mind. But over time, the arrangement began to feel less like a kind gesture and more like a never-ending obligation.
So when Rachel asked her to watch all three kids again, Nise took a deep breath and said:
“I’ll watch my grandson, but I’d like to be paid if I’m also babysitting your older two. I’ve done it for free many times, but those kids are a handful, and I just felt like I was being taken advantage of.”
Rachel’s response? Silence. She looked away and said nothing.
The Lockout
The next day, Nise arrived at Rachel’s house—only to discover her key no longer worked. She knocked. No answer. She called and texted. Nothing.
When she finally reached David, he was just as stunned. He hadn’t changed the locks and didn’t know what was going on.
Eventually, Rachel texted back:
“I don’t need to pay you to watch my kids, and I didn’t appreciate your attitude. If you’re going to charge me, forget it.”
For Nise, it felt like the door had been slammed—both literally and figuratively.
A Costly Boundary
“I’ve always tried to be there for them,” Nise said. “I didn’t mean to start drama—I just needed to protect my time and energy.”
Now, she’s left wondering: Was it wrong to put a price on her time, or was it simply a fair boundary?
Conclusion
Nise’s story shines a light on a question many families face: Where’s the line between helping out and being taken for granted? Love shouldn’t come with a price tag—but respect shouldn’t come for free.