When my daughter-in-law Brittany asked me to babysit my grandson Noah for the weekend, I expected cuddles and cookies — not a handwritten bill for eggs, water, and toilet paper.

Despite our rocky relationship and her obsession with “boundaries,” I agreed, excited for time with Noah. But when I arrived, the house was a mess, the fridge nearly empty, and there were barely enough diapers. I cleaned, shopped, cooked, and poured my heart into making the weekend special.