Emily’s daughter asked her to stay with them for a week to look after her grandson, but she soon realized she wasn’t just needed for the child—she was expected to clean the entire house too.
Emily sits in her cosy flat in Manchester, staring at the suitcase she’s just packed. Her daughter, Charlotte, had called the day before with a request she couldn’t refuse: “Mum, please come stay with us for a week. Oliver misses you, and James and I have so much to sort out.” Emily, who adores her five-year-old grandson, agreed straight away. She imagined reading bedtime stories, playing in the park, and laughing together. But as soon as she stepped through the door, her heart sank—this wasn’t going to be a week of fun with Oliver, it was going to be hard labour, and no one had warned her.
Charlotte and her husband, James, live in a spacious flat in the heart of Manchester. Emily had always admired how her daughter juggled work, family, and a tidy home. But when she walked in, she gasped—the kitchen was piled high with dirty dishes, toys were strewn across the living room, and crumbs littered the floor. Charlotte hugged her quickly and said, “Mum, we’re leaving tomorrow morning. You’ll be fine with Oliver, won’t you? And if you have time, maybe you could tidy up a bit?” Emily nodded, but unease settled in her stomach. That “bit” turned out to be a word she should’ve paid more attention to.
The next day, after waving Charlotte and James off, Emily was left with Oliver. She was prepared for tantrums, endless questions, and even his refusal to eat vegetables. But she wasn’t ready for the house to become her personal nightmare. Oliver, like any five-year-old, raced around leaving chaos in his wake. Emily chased after him, trying to restore order, but it was like trying to sweep up leaves in a storm. By evening, she found a list stuck to the fridge: *”Mum, please do the laundry, mop the floors, sort out the wardrobe, and pick up groceries.”* Emily froze, her pulse quickening. This wasn’t about looking after Oliver—this was a full-time housekeeper’s workload.
Each day became a relentless grind. In the morning, she made Oliver breakfast, then took him to the park to burn off energy. Back home, she fixed his lunch, washed dishes, did laundry, and scrubbed floors. The wardrobe Charlotte wanted “sorted” was a jumble of crumpled clothes she had to refold. Groceries? Emily lugged heavy bags from the shop while Oliver tugged her sleeve, begging for ice cream. By bedtime, she was exhausted, but still read him stories because he wouldn’t sleep without them. She adored Oliver, but with each passing day, her energy waned and her frustration grew. *”I came for my grandson, not to be their maid,”* she thought, catching a glimpse of her tired reflection in the mirror.
By midweek, Emily had had enough. She called Charlotte, keeping her voice steady. “Lottie, you asked me to help with Oliver, but why am I doing everything in the house?” Her daughter sounded surprised. “Mum, you’re already here—I thought it wouldn’t be much trouble. James and I are run off our feet.” Emily swallowed hard. She wanted to snap that she wasn’t young anymore, that her back ached, that she deserved rest too. Instead, she only said, “I came for Oliver, not your housekeeping.” Charlotte mumbled something about not realizing and promised to sort it, but Emily wasn’t convinced.
By the end of the week, when Charlotte and James returned, the flat sparkled, Oliver was beaming, and Emily felt completely drained. Charlotte hugged her. “Mum, you’re brilliant—we’d never manage without you!” But in those words, Emily didn’t hear gratitude—she heard confirmation she’d been taken for granted. She forced a smile, kissed Oliver goodbye, and left, vowing never to agree to such “favours” without clear terms.
Now, back in her own flat, Emily wonders how to tell Charlotte the truth. She loves Oliver and would happily spend time with him—but not at the cost of her health or self-respect. She won’t be the invisible helper whose efforts go unnoticed. The next conversation with her daughter won’t be easy, but Emily is ready to stand her ground—for Oliver, for their family, but most of all, for herself.
