Two years ago, my sister passed away, leaving behind two boys, David (12) and Peter (7). My brother-in-law was struggling to juggle everything, and he was looking to hire a maid to help care for the kids. I couldn’t stand the thought of someone else raising them when they’re my blood, so I offered to step in.
For two years, I’ve been taking care of them as if they were my own. Every day, I’d wake up early, make their breakfast, clean the house, do the dishes, wash their clothes, feed and care for the 50 chickens on the property, all while managing my own studies. I did it all without a complaint. I wanted to, because I loved them and wanted to keep my sister’s memory alive through them.
One Sunday, after two years of doing everything without a single mistake, I went out for a walk. I asked David (now 14) to prepare lunch, which was a simple meal. He said he could manage, and I trusted him. It was the one day my brother-in-law was off from work, so I thought maybe he could help too.
A few hours later, I got a call from my in-law, and to my shock, he told me to start looking for a new place because, in his words, I wasn’t helping enough. All because I asked David to handle one meal, one time, in two years. I was crushed. I thought I had done everything right, but apparently, that one day was enough for him to decide I wasn’t good enough.
I didn’t argue or fight back. I packed my things and left quietly. Now, my in-law is angry that I left without a word.
