I’m a teacher, so my husband’s ex expects me to teach their two kids French. I said, “I’m not a free tutor—I do this for a living!” She replied, “You’re a stepmom; you have responsibilities.” My husband smirked. Later, I found out that my husband had been secretly… …promising his ex that I would tutor the kids for free. He never asked me—he just assumed I would agree because “it’s family.” When I confronted him, he admitted he thought it would be a way for me to bond with his children.
I love my stepchildren deeply, but I also believe healthy family relationships are built on respect, not on being taken for granted. I explained that teaching is my profession, and when I’m asked to give hours of lessons without being consulted, it makes me feel unappreciated. What I wanted was not payment, but acknowledgment of my boundaries.
