One evening, during a large family gathering, a friend complimented me for being an amazing aunt. I felt warm inside—until Rea laughed it off and said, “Oh please, she just watches them when I have no one else. She complains all the time about it.”
I was stunned. My fork froze mid-air. Everyone at the table shifted. My mother raised an eyebrow, my father stopped chewing, even my quiet cousin looked up. Rea kept talking as if it were normal. I forced a smile, hiding the sudden heat rising in my face.
Finding Freedom and Setting a Boundary
A few days later, Rea texted: “Hey! Can you watch the kids tomorrow? I need to go to that spa thing I told you about! Pleeease ❤️”
In the past, I would have immediately said yes. This time, I paused and simply replied: “I can’t tomorrow, sorry.”
She responded with a sad face emoji and “Okay, I’ll figure something out.” I didn’t feel guilty—only a wonderful sense of freedom. That weekend, I focused on myself, met friends, and enjoyed time purely for my own joy.
The Honest Talk and the Beginning of Change
The next week, I invited Rea for coffee. I explained how much her comment had hurt me. I told her I loved her kids but needed her to respect my time and life.
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