Labor was long, difficult, and emotional—but holding our son in my arms made it all worth it. After three days at the hospital, we returned home, ready to settle in as a new family.
That’s when we saw the envelope on the kitchen table. I opened it, expecting a kind note or welcome-home message. Instead, it read:
“Please send $600 for watching Rich. My time has value. Payment info included.”
I stared in disbelief. After everything—after giving birth to her grandchild—she had left us an invoice.
Jake read the note and sighed. “I’ll talk to her,” he said.
But I had another plan.
A week later, Abigail visited to meet the baby. She doted on him and complimented his features, clearly smitten. But before leaving, she casually asked, “So, when can I expect that payment?”
I smiled. “Of course. But first, I have something for you too.”
I pulled out a folder I had put together over the past few days—an organized list of all the ways we had helped her over the last few years.
“Since we’re placing monetary value on family favors,” I said, “I thought it was only fair to return the gesture.”
Inside was everything—from helping her move ($800), contributing to her car repairs ($1,200), babysitting her neighbor’s kids at her request ($600), and more. I had even listed thoughtful gestures like shared dinners and holiday hosting, though those remained unpriced.
Abigail was speechless. “You can’t charge family for these things,” she said.
“Exactly,” I replied. “Family helps each other. No strings, no invoices.”
She didn’t say much more. She left quietly—and never mentioned the $600 again.
Jake gave me a hug and said, “You handled that perfectly.”
I settled onto the couch with our baby, Rich curling up beside me once more. The folder stayed on the desk, just in case. But what mattered most was the message: love and support within a family shouldn’t come with a bill.
And while things with Abigail remained cordial, the experience reminded me that sometimes, setting boundaries is the most loving thing you can do—for yourself and for your new family.