It was a no-brainer to leave my kids with my sister while I was away. But what happened under her watch, and how she reacted when I asked her to take responsibility, left me deeply disappointed.
I always thought of my sister, Claire, as someone I could rely on. She is two years younger than I am and works as a nanny.
If anyone could handle children well, it had to be her.
That trust mattered even more because my job as a sales manager is demanding.
Long hours, endless phone calls, and last-minute client meetings often leave me exhausted. It doesn’t always fit neatly with my children’s school schedule.
I remember one day when everything collided — a big client meeting was scheduled at the same time as parent-teacher conferences.
I panicked, unsure how I could be in two places at once. That was when Claire stepped in without hesitation.
She picked the kids up from school, made them snacks, and even helped them with their homework before I got home.
It gave me peace of mind, and I was grateful. That moment made me believe I could count on her whenever I needed help because I’m a single mother.
So when another responsibility came up, I thought of her right away.
One weekend I had to travel to another city for a work conference, so I asked Claire to babysit my children for a day. I felt safe leaving them in her care.
To make sure she took it seriously, I even offered to pay her double her usual rate.
When I told her, she raised her eyebrows.
“Double?” she asked, tilting her head.
“Yes,” I said.
“It’s just for the day, but I want you to feel appreciated.”
Claire gave a small smile. “Alright, fine.
If you insist. I’ll take it.”
I nodded.
“Good.
I’m counting on you.”
When I left, the kids were laughing in the pool. Claire sat nearby with her sunglasses on, watching them.
I told myself, “This will be fine. She does this for a living.”
The drive to the city was calm, and I reached the conference hall on time.
The event was busy, filled with people from different companies.
I gave my presentation, answered questions from clients, and attended back-to-back meetings.
Lunch was a quick sandwich at my desk, followed by another round of discussions that stretched into the late afternoon. By the end, I felt drained but also relieved that everything had gone smoothly.
The story doesn’t end here –
it continues on the next page.
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