When my daughter-in-law Brittany asked me to babysit my grandson Noah for the weekend, I imagined snuggles, storytime, and maybe a few cartoons. What I didn’t expect? An invoice—for eggs, water, and toilet paper.
Despite our… delicate relationship and her ever-growing list of “boundaries,” I agreed. Because Noah’s smile is worth more than any awkward exchange.
But the moment I walked into their home, I realized this wasn’t going to be a simple weekend. No baby food in sight, a diaper stash running on fumes, and the kitchen looked like it had survived a small tornado. Still, I rolled up my sleeves: I cooked, cleaned, bathed Noah, and gave him all the love he deserved.
Then came Monday—and with it, a handwritten note:
“Please Venmo $40 to cover food, water, and paper goods.”
I stood there, blinking in disbelief… then decided to respond in kind.
I drafted my own invoice:
“Grandmother Services, Est. 1993”—complete with a detailed breakdown of the 18+ years I spent raising her husband. The grand total? $200,000. But, generous as ever, I applied a 99.98% family discount. Final balance due?
$40.
I signed it with a flourish and left it at their door. A few hours later, Brittany Venmo’d me the $40 “to settle her debt.”
I laughed, sent the money straight to a children’s hospital in Noah’s name, and considered the matter closed.
Because sometimes, the sweetest revenge isn’t loud—
It’s clever. And classy.
