Just days before I was due to give birth, I asked my husband, Jake, to make arrangements for someone to care for our dog, Rich. He told me his mother, Abigail, would handle it.
The delivery was exhausting, yet seeing our baby for the first time made it all worthwhile. When we finally got back home—tired but elated—I noticed a note left on the kitchen counter. I expected a sweet “Welcome Home” greeting. Instead, it read: “You owe me $600 for looking after Rich. My time isn’t free. Here’s my bank information.”

She tilted her head, clearly caught off guard. “A catch?”
I nodded. “Yes. If you’re going to bill me like a business, then I’ll need an invoice—itemized, with dates and times. Also, documentation of Rich’s meals, walks, vet check-ups, any services rendered. You understand, right? Just standard procedure when hiring someone.”
Jake’s face turned pale. Abigail blinked rapidly, clearly not expecting that level of formality.