
I Helped Plan a Family Cruise for My Dad and Stepmom & They Invited Me Too—I Didn’t Know They’d Turn Me Into the Nanny
The Cruise That Changed Everything I never thought a family vacation would teach me the hardest lesson of my life—sometimes, you have to choose yourself. It all started with a phone call. I was scrubbing dishes in my tiny apartment when my phone buzzed. Linda—my stepmom—flashed on the screen. “Hey, sweetheart,” she said, her voice tired. “I need a huge favor.” I tucked the phone between my ear and shoulder. “What’s up?” “We’re drowning,” she sighed. “Your dad’s exhausted. I haven’t had a break in years. We need a vacation—something