My ex-husband and his new wife recently had a baby, and since then, my 16-year-old daughter—who lives with them—has been caught in a troubling situation. Last night, she called me in tears, explaining that her stepmother had assigned her the “night shift” to care for the newborn. Her stepmom said, “You can’t live here for free; you need to earn it.” Hearing this, my heart broke—and my anger flared. A teenager shouldn’t be forced to sacrifice her sleep and school days for a baby that’s not her responsibility.

Instead of reacting with anger, I took decisive action. I arranged for Child Protective Services (CPS) to visit the next morning, hoping they would see what I saw: a young girl being unfairly burdened with adult responsibilities. CPS spoke with my ex, his wife, and my daughter, but after their assessment, they found no grounds to intervene. My ex-husband was furious with me, calling my move an overreaction. To my shock, even my daughter thought I had gone too far.

Now, I’m left wrestling with doubt. Did I do the right thing by involving CPS? I don’t regret standing up for my daughter, but I worry that my actions may have added stress to her life. At the same time, the idea that she’s expected to be exhausted and miss out on her own childhood feels profoundly wrong. How can I protect her without causing more tension or making her feel caught between two worlds?

I’m searching for a way to support her gently yet firmly, without escalating the conflict further. I want to defend her right to be a teenager, not a nighttime babysitter, while keeping peace in the family. If you’ve faced something similar or have advice, I’d really appreciate your thoughts. Carol