Managing a career while handling childcare duties can be tough. Jasmine, who teaches at a university and is a stepmother to two teens, faced a tricky dilemma. Her husband’s former wife requested that she tutor their kids in French after her workday, but Jasmine declined without compensation. Things got more complicated when her husband stepped in, leaving Jasmine overwhelmed and seeking our guidance.
Jasmine’s letter
I teach French at a university. I have two stepchildren, 12 and 14. Their mother expects me to teach them at home after my working hours. I said, “I’m not a free tutor-I do this for a living!”
She replied, “You’re a stepmom; you have responsibilities. You should be ashamed to call them your stepkids.” My husband smirked.
The next day, I entered my room and was shocked to find a note that read, “You’re not a free teacher, and this is not a free house.” I confronted my husband, and he said that if I expect to be paid to teach his kids, then he expects me to pay rent for living under his roof.
I refused and said, “You own the house; we don’t rent it.” He just smirked.
A month later, I found out that my husband had started to secretly use my savings to pay for private tutors for his children. When I confronted him, he admitted it and said, “If you won’t help them, someone has to.” Feeling betrayed and manipulated, I decided to leave and stay with a friend.