When my sister-in-law invited my kids to her “large, luxurious home” for a week, I thought it would be a fun summer by the pool and trampoline. She said her daughter, Mikayla, was bored and wanted company, so I agreed and even gave my kids money for treats.

For three days, I heard nothing, which was unusual. When I asked, my sister-in-law claimed they were “having a great time.” On the fourth day, my daughter texted me to “come save us” because their phones had been taken.

I arrived unannounced and found my son scrubbing pool tiles and my daughter hauling a heavy garbage bag while Mikayla lounged on her phone. A clipboard listed daily chores they had to finish to “earn” pool and TV time. My daughter whispered they were threatened with losing their money and being forced to sleep in the garage if they refused.

I packed them up, demanded their phones back, and left. My sister-in-law called it “building character,” but I sent her an invoice for the child labor. She paid immediately.

I used the money for an amusement park trip. That summer, my kids learned about fairness, the value of work, and that I’ll always protect them.