Setting boundaries is a healthy part of any relationship. But sometimes, in protecting our time and energy, we forget how deeply our presence can matter—especially to children. When my boyfriend asked me to babysit his 7-year-old daughter for the weekend, I hesitated. I cared about her, but watching her had started to feel less like occasional help and more like a regular responsibility.

After thinking it through, I told him that if it continued, I couldn’t do it for free. He agreed, though the mood between us felt strained. That night, as I sat reading on the couch, his daughter quietly walked in holding her favorite stuffed toy.