My Kids Listed My House on Airbnb While I Was in the Hospital — I Found a Way to Teach Them a Lesson
Mariah had been feeling less than healthy lately, causing her to admit herself into the hospital so that she could have a check-up. But in her absence, her children decided to rent out her house as an Airbnb, ready to pocket the money for themselves. When Mariah found out, she decided to teach her children a lesson.
“Mariah,” my friend Liz said on the phone, “why on earth is your house listed as an Airbnb?”
A phone opened to an Airbnb app | Source: Pexels
“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.
A group of women | Source: Midjourney
“Liz, I truly have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said, looking at the IV drip away into my bloodstream. “Send me the link to the site Denise saw.”
This is how I taught my children a valuable lesson:
Recently, my blood pressure had been all over the place, causing me to faint at odd moments.
A close-up of an IV | Source: Midjourney
“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.”
A counter at a pharmacy | Source: Midjourney
Leah moved around my kitchen, slicing vegetables to make a salad to go along with the grilled chicken she had been marinating.
“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.
A plate of grilled chicken and salad | Source: Midjourney
“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.
A young woman pointing and smiling | Source: Midjourney
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.
But still, there was a nagging feeling that something could be wrong.
Women at a yoga class | Source: Midjourney
“Just go to silence that feeling,” Liz said when we met for smoothies after our yoga class one day.
“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.”
A close-up of smoothies | Source: Midjourney
“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.”
“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.”
A doctor putting on gloves | Source: Pexels
Which is how I ended up at the hospital, and how my children chose to take advantage of the situation.
“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.”
A smiling nurse holding a clipboard | Source: Midjourney
Catching up with Liz meant that hearing that my children had let my house out as an Airbnb for the week that I was scheduled to be in the hospital.
“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.
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
“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.
A couple playing poker | Source: Pexels
“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?”
“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.”
A close-up of a woman’s IV and hospital band | Source: Midjourney
“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.
I hung up the call, and the nurse brought my lunch to me, ready to leave me alone to eat while she did her rounds.
A tray of hospital food | Source: Midjourney
If I was being honest, I didn’t know how I felt about my children’s betrayal. But it hurt me to imagine that while I had been away at the hospital, my children were perfectly fine with having strangers take over my home.
“What were they thinking?” I asked myself.
They hadn’t given a second thought to people using the mugs I had hand-painted, or people sitting in their father’s worn armchair. Paul has been deceased for a few years now, but it still felt like his chair.
An armchair in a living room | Source: Midjourney
“No,” I said to myself. “I’m going to get back at these kids.”
The next morning, I was discharged with a clean bill of health, despite warnings to keep my stress down.
“And keep an eye on your cholesterol, Mariah,” my doctor said. “Eat lots of green leafy vegetables.”
Leafy vegetables on a countertop | Source: Midjourney
I drove myself to Liz’s house, where I was going to wait for Denise to meet me with the keys to my house.
“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.”
A cup of tea with a muffin | Source: Midjourney
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.
There was a sweet perfume scent that took over my usual woody-scented house.
I had a long shower, ready to wash away the scent of the hospital that clung to my skin. I was ready for a long sleep in my own bed.
A comfortable bed | Source: Midjourney
For tomorrow, the fun began.
The next morning, I made myself some breakfast and dutifully took the array of vitamins and supplements that the doctor had given me.
Then, I began to pack away all of my appliances.
Appliances in the trunk of a car | Source: Midjourney
“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.
Together, Liz and I emptied out the house, leaving only the old toaster behind.
“Come on,” Liz said, linking her arm in mine. “Let’s get you out of here.”
An old toaster in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
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.
We walked into the house, and there were entirely new appliances all over my kitchen.
A kitchen with new appliances | Source: Midjourney
“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.
“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.
A shocked young woman | Source: Midjourney
“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?”
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.”
A close-up of a young woman | Source: Midjourney
“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.”
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.”
A fancy kettle on a countertop | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
My Husband Spent Our Car Savings on a Paris Trip for His Mom – So I Taught Him a Financial Lesson
When David announced he’d spent our car savings, I was livid. But when he revealed it was for a Paris trip for his mom, my anger hit a new level. I couldn’t believe it, but I knew I had to do something to teach him a lesson.
I never imagined I’d be in this situation, plotting a way to teach my own husband a lesson about money. But David’s latest stunt left me no choice.
Here’s how it all went down.
A woman standing in her living room | Source: Midjourney
Life is busy and chaotic in our house, but I love it.
As a mom of three kids under 10, there’s never a dull moment. Mornings start with cereal spills, missing socks, and someone inevitably arguing over who gets the last waffle. By the time I drop them off at school, I’m running on sheer determination and cold coffee.
But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
A woman driving | Source: Pexels
My husband, David, is a great man. He’s a loving father, a reliable partner, and a hardworking provider. But he also has a QUIRK.
Let’s call it his flair for impulsive decisions.
Over the years, I’ve learned to brace myself when he starts a sentence with “So, I’ve been thinking…”
Like the time he decided to convert our garage into a home gym.
“Think of the savings!” he said. “No more gym memberships!”
A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
What he forgot to mention was the cost of all the fancy equipment he ordered online.
Then there was the backyard project. He promised he’d build the kids a treehouse.
Instead, we ended up with a half-finished platform that took over the yard for weeks before he lost interest.
Despite these quirks, we’ve always been good at managing our finances. We make plans, set goals, and stick to them. Or at least, I do.
And for the past three years, our big goal was to save for a new car.
A woman counting money | Source: Pexels
Our current van is a relic from our pre-kid days. It’s been through a lot, and the dents and scratches are a testimony to its glorious journey.
Now, with three growing kids, we needed something bigger, safer, and more reliable. And we were so close to reaching our goal.
Three years of cutting corners, skipping vacations, and saying “next time” to every little indulgence. We had finally saved up enough for a solid down payment on a new vehicle.
A woman holding car keys | Source: Pexels
At that point, I thought David and I were on the same page. Little did I know he had other ideas. Ideas that would turn my world upside down.
One Friday evening, after a long day of wrangling the kids, I finally got them tucked into bed. The house was quiet, and I sank into the couch with a sigh, savoring the rare stillness.
That’s when David strolled into the living room, hands in his pockets, with a strange look on his face.
A man standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney
“I did something today,” he began, shifting his weight from one foot to another. His tone made me sit up straighter.
“Oh?” I said cautiously. “Something good or… one of those somethings?”
David grinned like a kid about to show off a science experiment. “Good! I mean, really good.”
I folded my arms. “Alright, hit me with it.”
He took a deep breath like he’d been waiting all day to drop this bombshell.
“I bought Mom a trip to Paris!” he exclaimed as his eyes lit up.
A man standing in his house | Source: Midjourney
For a second, I thought I’d misheard.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “You bought what?”
“A trip to Paris!” he repeated, grinning from ear to ear. “She’s always dreamed of going, and I thought, why not make it happen? She’s done so much for us, so I wanted to give her something special.”
I blinked, trying to process the words.
“David… that’s… really generous.” My heart was racing, though. Something wasn’t adding up. “Where did you get the money for this?”
A woman talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney
His grin faltered for a second before he forced it back. “Well, you know… from the savings.”
“What savings?” I asked.
“I…uh…used the car fund,” he said, barely meeting my gaze.
I couldn’t believe it.
“Wait. You used the car fund? The money we’ve been saving for three years?”
He shrugged, trying to keep his casual demeanor, but I could see the nerves creeping in.
“Look, Lisa,” he began. “We weren’t quite there yet anyway! We still needed a few thousand more, so I figured—”
A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney
“You figured?” My voice rose, incredulous. “David, that’s not your decision to make alone! You spent the money we need for a safe car for our kids on a vacation for your mom! That’s crazy! That money was for our kids! For us!”
He crossed his arms defensively. “It’s my money too! And this is my mom we’re talking about. You can’t put a price on showing gratitude.”
“Gratitude?” I shot back, standing up from the couch. “David, you didn’t just buy her a nice gift or treat her to dinner. You spent our family’s savings on a trip to Paris! Do you even hear yourself?”
A woman looking at her husband | Source: Midjourney
David’s jaw tightened. “You make it sound like I blew it on something selfish.”
I took a step closer, locking eyes with him. “It was selfish. Maybe not in a traditional sense, but you made that decision without me. You put your mom’s dream above our family’s needs.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The tension hung heavy between us.
“I thought you’d understand,” he finally muttered, looking away.
“I would have,” I said, my voice calmer now but still firm, “if you’d talked to me about it first.”
A man arguing with his wife | Source: Midjourney
But he didn’t. And as he walked away, I realized that my silence wasn’t acceptance. It was just the beginning of what was to come.
Over the next few days, I played my part perfectly. I acted as the supportive wife, nodding along as David talked about the surprise trip for his mom.
“She’s going to love it,” he kept saying, beaming with pride. “She’s always dreamed of seeing the Eiffel Tower. Can you imagine the look on her face when she finds out?”
A man sitting at the breakfast table | Source: Midjourney
I smiled through gritted teeth, but my mind was already plotting.
Step one: Call Melissa.
David’s mom, Melissa, has always been sweet and kind to me. We’ve never had the stereotypical tense relationship you hear about with mothers-in-law.
She’s understanding, respectful, and never interferes in our marriage. That’s why I knew I could count on her to help me fix this mess.
When she answered the phone, her voice was warm as ever.
“Lisa! What a nice surprise. How are you, dear?”
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
“I’m good, Melissa. But I wanted to talk to you about something important.” I took a deep breath. “David bought you a trip to Paris.”
There was a pause on the line.
“He what?” she finally asked. I could feel the disbelief in her voice.
“He used our car fund to pay for it,” I explained. “The one we’ve been saving for three years to buy a safe, reliable vehicle for the kids.”
A woman using her phone | Source: Unsplash
“Oh, honey…” Melissa’s voice softened with concern. “I had no idea. If I’d known, I never would have accepted it! I don’t need Paris. I just want to know you and the kids are okay.”
“I know,” I said, relieved. “That’s why I called. I was hoping you’d understand.”
“Of course,” she replied. “Cancel the trip, Lisa. Family comes first.”
Step two: Call the travel agency.
Fortunately, David had booked a fully refundable package. I wasted no time getting the money back into our savings account.
A woman using her laptop | Source: Pexels
Step three: Wait for the fallout.
I didn’t have to wait long.
A week later, David came home looking panicked. He tossed his keys on the counter and ran a hand through his hair before blurting out, “I just got a call from Mom.”
I casually glanced up from the book I was reading. “Oh?”
“She said you canceled the trip?” His eyes were wide with disbelief. “What the hell, Lisa?”
I closed my book and smiled sweetly. “Don’t worry, honey. I used the money for something even better.”
David’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean? What did you do?”
A worried man | Source: Midjourney
“I bought the car,” I said, folding my hands in my lap. “You know, the one we’ve been saving for? The one our family actually needs?”
His jaw dropped. “Wait… what?”
I stood up, grabbed the keys from the counter, and jingled them in front of him. “It’s parked in the driveway. And your mom? She actually chipped in the exact amount we were short after she found out what you did.”
David stared at me in stunned silence.
A man standing in his house | Source: Midjourney
“You spent all the money without consulting me?” he finally asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
“Kind of like how you spent it without consulting me?” I raised an eyebrow. “Except I spent it on something that benefits our entire family. I think that’s a little different, don’t you?”
He sputtered, trying to find the words to argue, but he came up empty. He knew I was right.
The next morning, I handed him a neatly typed spreadsheet over breakfast.
A table of expenses | Source: Pexels
“What’s this?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Our new family budget,” I said, sliding it across the table. “From now on, we both need to sign off on any expense over $500. If you can’t handle that, I’ll be happy to take over all the finances myself.”
David sighed, rubbing his temples. “Lisa…”
I leaned forward, my voice firm but calm. “This isn’t negotiable. We’ve got three kids to think about. We can’t afford any more surprises like this.”
After a long pause, he finally nodded.
“Alright,” he said. “You’re right.”
A man having breakfast | Source: Midjourney
From that day on, our money became a joint effort. Not his, not mine, but ours.
And every time I see that shiny new car sitting in the driveway, I feel a little spark of satisfaction.
Sometimes, the best lessons aren’t taught with words. They’re taught with actions. And this one hit right where it hurt. His wallet.
If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: Colleen believed she knew everything about her husband until she accidentally overheard his therapy session. Michael’s startling confession revealed his darkest secrets, destroying their 12-year marriage and leaving Colleen to pick up the shattered pieces of their family.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Leave a Reply