The Wife of My Ex Forced My 16YO to Babysit Their Newborn at Night So I Took Matters Into My Own Hands

Hi,

My teenage daughter, who lives with her father and stepmother, called me crying last night. She’s 16, and apparently, she’s been told she has to take the night shift with their newborn. Her stepmother told her, “You can’t live here for free—you have to earn your keep.”

I was furious. But instead of reacting on emotion, I contacted Child Protective Services (CPS) and arranged for an unannounced welfare check. CPS spoke with everyone, including my daughter, but concluded there wasn’t enough to act on.

My ex was livid. And to my surprise, my daughter also felt I went too far.

Now I’m torn. I don’t regret trying to protect her, but I’m worried I made things harder for her at home. Still, I can’t help but feel it’s wrong for a teenager to be expected to care for an infant all night—especially when she’s balancing school.

I’m struggling to find the line between protecting her and respecting her world. How can I support her without escalating the situation?

Thanks for listening,
Carol