“Mariah,” my friend Liz said on the phone, “why on earth is your house listed as an Airbnb?”

“What?” I asked, completely confused. “What are you talking about?”

“Denise was looking for a house to rent for the weekend because it’s her bachelorette weekend, and she came across your house. Aren’t you still in the hospital?” she asked.

Discovering the Truth

A Shocking Revelation

“Liz, I truly have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said, looking at the IV drip attached to my arm. “Send me the link to the site Denise saw.”

This is how I taught my children a valuable lesson.

Health Scare

Recently, my blood pressure had been all over the place, causing me to faint at odd moments.

Children’s Concern

“Mom,” my son, Liam, said, “you need to get it checked out. There’s no point in going to the pharmacy and getting medication over the counter just because you think it’s going to help. You need to get everything assessed properly.”

“And you need to start eating better,” Leah, my daughter, said. “Having oats in the morning, toast during the day, and soup at night isn’t a balanced diet. You’re playing with your health. It’s time to take things seriously.”

Agreeing to the Hospital Stay

Taking Precautions

“And what about your constant headaches? It’s time to get everything checked out. You should go into the hospital and do a full check-up,” Liam said.

“But I feel fine, other than the headaches and dizziness; I’m good!” I retorted.

Both my kids snorted and rolled their eyes at me.

“Do it, Mom,” Leah said, pointing her finger at me.

Listening to Advice

I had to agree with them. I had been downplaying my health lately. I still walked every second day and did as much yoga as my body would allow during the week.

Facing Fears

“But what if we find something?” I asked, suddenly nervous to be speaking my thoughts out loud.

“Then, we’ll deal with it together. I know that Paul isn’t here anymore, but I’m here,” Liz said. “And anyway, we need you up and running for Denise’s wedding. I don’t know how to do the mother-of-the-bride things.”

“I’ll go to the GP and take it from there,” I said. “If he thinks that it’s the way to go, then I’ll do just that.”

Doctor’s Orders

“Yes, Mariah,” the doctor said. “I think it’s a great idea for you to go for a full-body check-up. There’s nothing wrong with just knowing your health and body. And I’ll recommend a CT scan for your headaches, too.”

The Hospital Stay

Admitted for Check-Up

Which is how I ended up at the hospital, and how my children chose to take advantage of the situation.

A Surprising Discovery

“I’ll bring your lunch soon,” the nurse said, smiling at me. “You just rest after your CT scan.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I’m just going to call my best friend and catch up with her.”

Catching up with Liz meant hearing that my children had let my house out as an Airbnb for the week that I was scheduled to be in the hospital.

Confronting the Situation

“So, what are you going to do about it?” Liz asked me when I called her back after I confirmed that it was my house on the site.

Devising a Plan

Planning the Lesson

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I want to teach them a lesson. Leah and Liam should have known better. But Leah and her husband are always looking for ways to make extra money. I’m sure that Andrew has a gambling problem, too.”

“Tell me what you want me to do,” Liz said, chewing something into my ear.

“I want you to tell Denise to book it,” I said. “But they’ll recognize that it’s her, so she’s probably going to need to create a new account. Do you think she’ll be okay with that?”

“Of course, she will!” Liz said. “Anything for you. But then what?”

Executing the Plan

Setting the Trap

“I’m getting discharged tomorrow,” I said. “But the kids think that I’ll be here until the end of the week. So, let them think that they’re going to make some money off the place.”

“You want Denise to rent the place, but you want to mess it up?” Liz chuckled. “That’s devious.”

“No, my children are devious,” I said.

Returning Home

Back to Familiar Surroundings

The next morning, I was discharged with a clean bill of health, despite warnings to keep my stress down.

A Different House

I drove myself to Liz’s house, where I was going to wait for Denise to meet me with the keys to my house.

Preparing for Payback

“Are you sure about this?” Liz asked, making me a cup of tea and buttering a lemon and poppy seed muffin.

“Yes,” I said. “And this way, they’ll truly have to feel accountable for their actions.”

Emptying the House

Packing Away

I went home a few hours later. There was something different about the house. The smell was different, and I knew for sure that someone else had been staying there.

Removing Appliances

“Where are you going to put everything?” Liz asked me when she came over.

“I’m going to put some into the trunk of my car, and we can hide the rest in the garage for now,” I said.

Leaving the Basics

Together, Liz and I emptied out the house, leaving only the old toaster behind.

Confronting the Children

A Homecoming Surprise

I waited until Friday, staying with Liz. And then I drove myself home that afternoon.

“Hi Mom!” Leah said excitedly when she saw me pull into the driveway.

“Hi, honey,” I said, taking out my bag from the backseat.

Facing the Truth

We walked into the house, and there were entirely new appliances all over my kitchen.

“What’s all this?” I asked, pretending to be shocked.

“Liam and I thought that you deserved new things!” Leah said, looking at the floor as she spoke.

Teaching the Lesson

Revealing the Plan

“No, you didn’t,” I said. “You came back to my home when your guest was supposed to check out and you found everything gone.”

Leah stared at me with her mouth open.

“You know?” she said.

“Of course, I do!” I exclaimed. “I took everything! You needed to be taught a lesson. Why would you let my house out?”

Seeking Forgiveness

Leah blinked slowly.

“Mom,” she said softly. “I’m so sorry. Andrew and I thought that it would be a good idea because it seemed like a great opportunity to make some extra money. Liam said that it was okay as long as nothing was broken.”

Restoring Trust

“Darling,” I said, hugging her. “You can’t do this. If you and Andrew need money, you come and talk to me about it. Don’t do things like this. It’s going to ruin our trust.”

Making Amends

My daughter smiled and took my bag from me.

“Come,” she said. “I’ll make you some tea with the new kettle. I’ll return everything else tomorrow. And the money is all yours.”

Conclusion

In life, our children may sometimes make poor decisions, but it’s up to us to guide them and teach them the value of honesty and integrity. Mariah’s story is a testament to a mother’s resilience and the lengths she will go to protect and educate her children. Have you ever had to teach your children a tough lesson? Share your experiences in the comments below.