When my sister-in-law, Candace, offered to host my kids for a summer week at her luxurious home, I thought it was a golden opportunity. Her six-bedroom mansion had a pool, trampoline, and every gaming console imaginable. I packed their bags with excitement, slipped some spending money into their pockets, and waved them off, imagining a week full of laughter and lazy swims. But after four days of total silence and a chilling message from my daughter that read, “Mom, come save us. Aunt took our phones. It’s my only chance,” I jumped in the car and drove straight over—nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.

Instead of enjoying summer bliss, my children were being used like hired help. My son was scrubbing the pool tiles while my daughter was hauling trash across the yard. Mikayla, Candace’s daughter, lounged poolside sipping juice, while a clipboard nearby listed “Daily Chores” my kids had to complete to earn access to the pool and 30 minutes of cartoons. When confronted, Candace brushed it off as “building character,” claiming the kids volunteered. But Annie whispered the truth—Candace had threatened to confiscate their money and make them sleep in the garage if they didn’t work.

I packed up my children immediately and demanded their phones back, which Candace had locked away “to keep them focused.” She tried to guilt me and minimize the situation, but I wasn’t having it. The next day, I sent her an invoice for $600 in unpaid labor with a note that said, “If you don’t pay, I’ll start sharing photos with your book club.” Within an hour, the payment arrived. I used every cent to take my kids to an amusement park for two days—no chores, no pressure, just joy.

That week didn’t teach my kids the lesson Candace had hoped—it taught them something far more important. They learned that their mom will always show up when they need her. They learned that work deserves respect and that no adult, no matter how charming, has the right to exploit their kindness. And they learned that sometimes, the best revenge is cotton candy for breakfast and funnel cake for lunch.