I’m a stay-at-home wife, and my husband’s ex-wife has a busy job. Last summer, she began dropping off her three sons at my house from morning till night because she was “too busy.” When I asked for $120 a day, she ignored me—and my husband stayed quiet.
One day I came home to find my kitchen wrecked, a broken mug, and marker all over the wall. I love kids, but I didn’t marry Daniel to be free childcare for his ex. When he brushed it off—“They’re just kids”—I snapped. Those aren’t my kids, and she hasn’t paid me a dime.
The next morning, she dropped them off again without warning. I texted her that she owed me $480 and dropped the boys off at Daniel’s office. “This is your problem,” I told him. That finally got through.
The next day, she showed up with $240 in cash—no apology, but at least acknowledgment. Daniel admitted he’d been afraid to confront her because she used the kids to manipulate situations.
Things slowly improved. She began asking before dropping them off and paid ahead sometimes. Then Daniel got sick and was hospitalized. I stayed with him, and when the boys visited, their mom didn’t come. The oldest said, “I wish you were my real mom.” That broke me.
After Daniel recovered, I told him things had to change. He and his ex worked out custody—weekends and one weekday only, no surprise visits. Later, she lost her job, but instead of chaos, I offered to take the boys extra days for free. She quietly said, “Thank you.”
Now, we have mutual respect. The boys are older, and I’m not their mother—but I’m their person. Boundaries saved my peace, and kindness repaired what anger broke.
