Lucy, my daughter, smashed through the door with tears running down her face. I stopped moving out of worry and ran to her side.
Lucy whispered, “Mom, she wouldn’t pay me.” Her voice was shaking. Our haughty neighbour, Mrs. Carpenter, wouldn’t pay Lucy for watching because she saw it as a “life lesson.”
Even though I was very angry, I kept my cool for Lucy’s sake. “How much did she owe you?” I asked.
$220 to watch kids for five days. And told Lucy, “You earned this.” I knew I had to go further, though.
The “tough love” method that Mrs. Carpenter used had gone too far. She couldn’t use my daughter for her own gain. I needed a plan of action.
I went to see Mrs. Carpenter the next morning with a nice smile on my face. “I wanted to thank you personally,” I told you.
“For teaching Lucy a great lesson in life,” I said next, my voice sarcastic. Mrs. Carpenter’s smile broke.
I took out my phone and showed her the post I had made on a local Facebook group. “I’ve been sharing your lesson with everyone.”
People said mean things like “disgraceful,” “untrustworthy,” and “bad reflection on our community.” Mrs. Carpenter turned pale.
“You made it clear what lesson you intended to impart,” I noted. “Now everyone knows your nature as an educator.”
Mrs. Carpenter begged me to take down the posts, but I wouldn’t. “It’s just a life lesson, isn’t it?” I said with a sweet smile.
That night, Mrs. Carpenter sent Lucy a letter with the money she was owed and an apology.
Some people might say what I did wasn’t necessary, but I’d do it again in a moment. The people who took advantage of my daughter would have to deal with the results.
I smiled as Lucy talked excitedly with her friend about her art class. Sometimes, as a mum, you have to show your kid they matter instead of always taking the high road.
