My boyfriend asked me to babysit his 7-year-old daughter for the weekend—again. I’d done it many times, but it was becoming routine, unpaid labor. I told him: if this is regular, I can’t do it for free anymore.
He looked surprised but agreed. When he dropped her off Friday, I reminded him. He paid, but the warmth between us cooled.
Later, as I read on the couch, his daughter approached, clutching her stuffed bear. She said softly, “You don’t have to watch me because of money. I like when you’re here. It feels safe.”
Her words hit hard. All my talk of fairness faded. She didn’t care about arrangements—she felt loved, secure.
I hugged her tight. That weekend, I realized boundaries matter, but so does the quiet impact of care. Children don’t measure worth in dollars; they feel it in presence. Love, safety, kindness—those are the real currency.