By the time I tucked the girls into bed, frustration bubbled over. Jake and Amanda didn’t return until 3 a.m., laughing about how their friends wouldn’t let them leave.
“Do you realize how disrespectful this is?” I confronted them. Amanda brushed it off, but I stood firm. “This is the last time.”
The next morning, I laid down boundaries: no unannounced drop-offs, no exceptions. A week later, they tested me again, showing up without warning. I answered through the intercom, “I’m not home right now. I told you to call ahead.” They left, stunned.
Over time, something shifted. Jake began calling before visits, and Amanda was more polite. Setting boundaries had been tough, but I reclaimed my time and self-respect.
For the first time in years, I felt truly valued. That was a New Year’s resolution worth keeping.