After my 16-year-old daughter died, her dad and I chose to donate her $25K college fund to charity. Amber, my 30-year-old stepdaughter who never liked and never accepted me, suddenly showed up:
“SO… WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE MONEY?”
I told her about the donation. She scoffed: “You’re giving it away?!
SO STUPID! You could give it to me. I’m your daughter now, aren’t I?!”
Then my husband backed her up: “Amber’s right.
That money could help with her house—charity can wait.”
Speechless, I looked at them and said, “Okay. But only if you…”
“…spend a full month volunteering with the charity yourselves. Every Saturday.
No skipping.”
Amber blinked like I’d slapped her. “You’re joking.”
I wasn’t. My husband’s mouth opened like he wanted to argue, but I cut him off.
“You want that money? Show me you care about something bigger than yourselves first.”
She scoffed. “That’s ridiculous.
