In my peaceful suburban neighborhood, everything was perfect—until Megan moved in. She was a single mom, but instead of asking for help occasionally, she quickly turned me into her unpaid babysitter.

At first, I tried to be understanding. “Emergencies” became a regular thing, and before I knew it, I was babysitting Megan’s daughter, Lily, almost daily. My own son, Tommy, deserved more of my time, but I felt trapped by Megan’s constant demands.

One day, needing a break, I asked Megan to watch Tommy for an hour. Her response? “Sorry, I don’t watch other people’s kids. It’s too stressful.” I was stunned after all I had done for her. That was the last straw.

The next time Megan asked me to babysit, I responded with a smile, “I’ve started a babysitting business! For you, it’s just $15 an hour.” Her face reddened. “I can’t afford that!” she snapped, storming off.

Word spread quickly. Soon, other neighbors also started charging Megan. She couldn’t find anyone willing to babysit for free anymore.

Though I briefly felt guilty, I realized this was a necessary lesson in setting boundaries. Some people just need to carry the weight of their own choices.