I teach French at a university and have two stepchildren, aged 12 and 14. Their mother suggested I teach them at home after my work hours. I declined, saying, “I’m not a free teacher; my job is already exhausting.” She responded, “What kind of stepmom are you?” My husband stayed silent.
The next day, I was shocked to find a note in my room that said, “You’re not a free teacher, and this is not a free house.” When I confronted my husband, he told me that if I expected to be paid to teach his kids, he would expect me to pay rent for living in his house. I refused, pointing out that he owned the house and we didn’t rent it. He just smirked.
A month later, I found out my husband had been secretly using my savings to hire 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 left to stay with a friend. Now I’m questioning whether I made the right decision or if I overreacted and should have just agreed to teach them from the start.