My cousin Ella, a whirlwind of energy, began treating me as her personal maid. Every time she asked me to babysit her son Tyler, I arrived to find their tiny apartment in chaos—dishes piled up, trash overflowing, and a mess I couldn’t ignore.

At first, I cleaned without complaint, thinking Ella was overwhelmed. But after months of this, I realized I was being taken advantage of. I vented to my dad, who came up with a brilliant plan.

The next time Ella called for help, I agreed. But when it was time to make dinner, my dad arranged for Ella’s mother-in-law, Barbara, to step in. I told Ella I had an emergency, leaving Barbara to discover the disaster herself.

Ella called me in a panic, asking why I didn’t clean. I calmly explained that I wasn’t her maid, and she had taken me for granted. She apologized, finally understanding. I told her I’d only babysit again if the place was clean beforehand.

The lesson worked. The next time I visited, the apartment was spotless. Since then, Ella has been more respectful, and our relationship is better for it.