{"id":6565,"date":"2025-01-28T15:31:57","date_gmt":"2025-01-28T10:31:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pni.net.pk\/us\/?p=6565"},"modified":"2025-01-30T23:32:14","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T18:32:14","slug":"my-mil-demanded-600-for-walking-feeding-our-dog-while-i-was-in-labor-i-agreed-but-only-on-one-condition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pni.net.pk\/us\/my-mil-demanded-600-for-walking-feeding-our-dog-while-i-was-in-labor-i-agreed-but-only-on-one-condition\/","title":{"rendered":"My MIL Demanded $600 for Walking & Feeding Our Dog While I Was in Labor \u2013 I Agreed, but Only on One Condition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When I came home from the hospital with my newborn, I noticed a note on the table and assumed it was a kind message from my mother-in-law.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Instead, it said she was charging us $600 for taking care of our dog while I was in labor. My husband promised to talk to her, but I had a better idea.<\/p>\n

A few days before I went into labor, I was sprawled out on the couch, trying to manage the dull ache in my lower back that kept growing sharper by the minute.
\nMy golden retriever, Rich, rested his head on my lap, his big brown eyes watching me like he knew something was up. I scratched behind his ears, grateful for his calm presence.<\/p>\n

\u201cJake!\u201d I called my husband, my voice strained as another wave of discomfort rolled through me.<\/p>\n

Jake was in the kitchen, stacking turkey and cheese onto a sandwich, his eyebrows crunched.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, babe?\u201d he replied, not even looking up.
\nI sighed. \u201cWe need to figure out what to do about Rich while we\u2019re at the hospital. Can we ask your mom to help out?\u201d<\/p>\n

We had a scheduled induction the following day because my baby was a week overdue, and I was ready to be done with this mess.<\/p>\n

Jake walked over, sandwich in hand, and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. \u201cDon\u2019t stress, Doris. Mom loves Rich. She\u2019ll handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was my husband. He shrugged off almost anything with an easy solution. His optimism was one of the reasons I loved him, but I\u2019m not going to lie, it was also one of the things that often grated on my nerves.<\/p>\n

But that might just be a product of the hormones and my discomfort. \u201cAlright,\u201d I said, leaning back into the cushions. \u201cJust make sure she knows it\u2019s only for a couple of days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later that night, Jake called Abigail, his mom, and explained the situation. She agreed without hesitation. He hung up, grinning. \u201cShe said she\u2019s happy to help. Problem solved.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I guessed that would have to be good enough for me.<\/p>\n

Jake and I packed our hospital bag that evening, and the next morning, we said goodbye to Rich. By the door, I knelt to scratch his fluffy head.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe a good boy for Grandma, okay?\u201d He wagged his tail like he understood.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about a thing,\u201d Abigail waved me off with a smile. \u201cI just wish I could be at the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That had been a slight issue. We had asked that our family not visit or accompany us to the hospital. My pregnancy had been rough enough, and I just needed my husband during labor.<\/p>\n

If something went wrong, I didn\u2019t want anyone else there either.
\nAbigail said she understood, but maybe she was still a bit salty about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cMom, you know our wishes,\u201d Jake intervened, smiling to take the sting out of his words.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, I know,\u201d she said. \u201cYou modern kids! Now, go have my grandchild.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Abigail,\u201d I said, and with that, we went out the door.<\/p>\n

I never got to be induced. My water broke just as we were entering the hospital\u2026 and honestly, we, women, need to talk about labor with each other and our daughters more often because this was hell.<\/p>\n

I spent hours gripping the hospital bed rails like they were the only thing tethering me to reality. Between the contractions and the endless poking and prodding from nurses, I thought I might lose my mind.<\/p>\n

Jake was by my side the whole time, holding my hand and trying his best to keep me calm, though he looked like he was one more contraction away from passing out himself.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But all the pain and the exhaustion melted away the moment they placed my son in my arms. He was tiny, wrinkly, and absolutely perfect.<\/p>\n

Jake and I cried like idiots. It was a marvel that we\u2019d brought this little person into the world. For three days, the hospital was our bubble of joy.
\nWhen we were finally allowed to go home, I felt relieved. We carefully carried our child through the hospital doors toward the parking lot.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jake called Abigail to tell her we had been discharged, and she said she was going to give us a few days to get settled before meeting the baby. That was so kind of her!<\/p>\n

As we pulled up to our driveway, I thought about settling on our couch and getting Rich to meet his new little brother. It was going to be perfect\u2026 yeah, no.<\/p>\n

The first thing I noticed when we walked into the kitchen was a folded piece of paper on the table. My heart fluttered, thinking Abigail had left us a sweet \u201cWelcome Home\u201d note.<\/p>\n

I carefully shifted the baby in my arms and opened it, already imagining something like \u201cCongratulations on your new bundle of joy!\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, the note read:<\/p>\n

\u201cYou owe me $600 for feeding and walking Rich. My time costs money. You have my bank details.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, I just stared at it, sure I was reading it wrong. But nope. It was real. My mother-in-law was demanding money for watching our dog.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not that I didn\u2019t want to pay for services like that, but she was family AND she never mentioned charging us.<\/p>\n

A woman\u2019s hand holding a piece of paper with a note | Source: Midjourney
\nA woman\u2019s hand holding a piece of paper with a note | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n

\u201cJake,\u201d I called, my voice sharp. He was in the living room, setting down the car seat. \u201cYou might want to come see this.\u201d<\/p>\n

He walked in, took one look at the note, and groaned. \u201cAre you serious?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDead serious,\u201d I said, waving the paper in his face. \u201cYour mom\u2019s demanding money for taking care of Rich while I was pushing your child out of my body.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jake ran a hand through his hair, already looking defeated. \u201cI\u2019ll talk to her,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d I snapped, stopping him in his tracks. \u201cI\u2019ll handle this.\u201d My mind was already coming up with an idea, and it didn\u2019t involve quietly paying up.<\/p>\n

A week later, Abigail came over to see the baby. She strolled in with a big smile, kissed Jake\u2019s cheek in greeting, and began cooing over my son like the most doting grandmother.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, he\u2019s precious,\u201d she said, cradling him in her arms. \u201cHe has Jake\u2019s nose.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment, I almost believed she was here just to see her grandson. But as she handed the baby back to me, she dropped the act.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo,\u201d she said, brushing her hands together. \u201cWhen can I expect my money? I\u2019ve waited long enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

I stared at her, holding my baby close. My smile didn\u2019t waver. \u201cOf course, Abigail. I\u2019ll pay you\u2014on one condition.\u201d
\nI walked over to the computer desk we kept in the area between the kitchen and the living room and pulled out a folder I\u2019d prepared earlier. I\u2019d spent the past few days going through every instance when Jake and I had done something for her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Every favor, every single dollar we ever spent on her (excluding gifts) was all there in black and white.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d I said, flipping it open, \u201csince you\u2019re charging us for your services, I figured it\u2019s only fair we do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

I laid the folder on the table and slid it toward her. Abigail leaned over, her face tight with suspicion. \u201cWhat is this?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can think of it as an itemized invoice,\u201d I said, keeping my voice light. \u201cYou know, like professionals do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her face went pale as she grabbed the paper and scanned what I\u2019d written.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s see,\u201d I began, tapping the paper. \u201cHelping you move houses last year? That\u2019s $800. That\u2019s cheaper than regular movers, so you can consider it a family discount. Then, there\u2019s the time we paid for your car repair when your transmission failed. That was $1,200. And the free babysitting I did for your neighbor\u2019s kids at your request? That\u2019s around $600.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abigail\u2019s mouth opened and closed like a fish. \u201cThis is ridiculous!\u201d she finally sputtered. \u201cYou can\u2019t charge me for things family does for each other!\u201d<\/p>\n

I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. \u201cExactly,\u201d I said, my tone sharp. \u201cFamily helps each other out without expecting payment. At least, that\u2019s what I thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She tried to argue, but her words came out jumbled. \u201cBut\u2026 but this is different! I had to rearrange my schedule to take care of Rich!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I had to rearrange my entire life to have your grandchild,\u201d I shot back, shrugging. \u201cSo if you want to talk about fair compensation, I think we\u2019re more than even.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abigail\u2019s face turned beet red. She stood there for a moment, staring at me like she couldn\u2019t believe what was happening. Then, without another word, she spun around and stormed out of the house, slamming the door so hard the baby started to fuss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jake, who had been watching silently from the kitchen, walked over and shook his head, a small grin tugging at his lips. \u201cNo one should mess with my wife,\u201d he said, wrapping me in his arms and kissing my cheek.<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t help but laugh as we pulled apart. \u201cYou got that right,\u201d I replied teasingly, sinking onto the couch with the baby.<\/p>\n

Rich trotted over, his tail wagging, and rested his head on my knee. I scratched his ears, looking down at the little bundle in my arms.
\nAt that moment, I felt at peace. Abigail might not have learned her lesson, but at least she wouldn\u2019t be bothering us about that $600 again. And if she ever did, well\u2026 I still had the folder.<\/p>\n

Let her try me.<\/p>\n

A woman in her 30s holding a newborn wrapped in a blanket, sitting on a couch with her husband smiling in the background | Source: Midjourney
\nA woman in her 30s holding a newborn wrapped in a blanket, sitting on a couch with her husband smiling in the background | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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