In response to my husband’s behind-the-scenes mockery of my handmade lasagna, my mother-in-law and I decided to give him a dose of reality.
What happened next was a dinner he would never forget, a dinner that taught him gratitude and respect.
I have been married to my husband Dave for about three years. I am proud of the food I can make. Although I’m no foodie, I never complained until recently.
On Friday I cooked homemade lasagna, one of my favorite recipes. To make everything perfect, I spent hours preparing it. I smiled imagining it when it was finally done. I thought Dave would at least say “thank you.”
Rather, he took a single bite, jerked, and pulled out his phone. He seemed to be taking pictures of everything so I assumed he took a picture of it. However, in a split second, I heard the sound of an incoming text message. Out of curiosity, I looked over his shoulder and my heart sank.
“Look what she did tonight,” the message read. It’s barely edible. I long for my mother’s kitchen!
My heart raced. “Dave, what the hell is this?” I shook my voice and asked.
He looked up in fright. “What? Oh, nothing,” he stumbled, trying to cover the phone.
“What? You texted someone that you miss your mom’s cooking and that my lasagna is barely edible.” I lost my temper.
Dave sighed. “Hey, I didn’t mean that at all. It was just… Just ventilation, I don’t know. It’s not that significant.”
“Isn’t that a big deal?” My ears were unbelievable to me.
“You know how much work I put into it, right? You could have told me if you didn’t like it.”
He added defensively, “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
“By saying it to my face or writing to someone behind my back?” I shot back.
“Because I think this is much worse.
Dave was massaging his forehead. “Okay, I’m sorry. It was a stupid move.”
Although I was not satisfied with his flimsy excuses, I decided to end the conversation for the evening.
The next day I had a different plan.
I informed Dave that I would be late for a work event. I visited his mother’s house. She was a beautiful woman and I wanted to get her advice. She opened her arms to me when I got there.
“Hey, love! Why did you come here?” She hugged me when she asked.
I breathed out. It has to do with Dave. He caused me great pain yesterday.”
She frowned. “What happened?”
I showed her the note Dave had sent and informed her about the lasagna incident. Right after the stun, she promised me help.
“Oh my god! I never raised him like this. Honey, I have a lesson for him. I have a strategy.”
My mother-in-law promised to cook something good in her kitchen. She skillfully prepared all of Dave’s favorite foods. She made sure everything overall tasted awful, over-seasoned, and undercooked.
She then presented everything expertly, knowing that Dave would be forced to take pictures. Then she called him and asked him for dinner.
Even though I knew better, the place smelled great. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she tried to explain the strategy in detail.
“I’ll salt the mashed potatoes, undercook the green beans, and leave the chicken bone dry. He’ll be ecstatic when he sees the spread, and then—well, we’ll wait and see.”
I couldn’t stop laughing. u think this will work?”
She blinked. “Oh dear, I’m sure he will. Dave was always too sure about food. That’ll be a reminder.”
My anxiety began to subside as we set the table. It will be fun.
Dave was ecstatic to see the delectable display when it arrived. He took a bite eagerly, but his expression began to change with each mouthful. He was rather frightened and confused.
“Is everything alright?” his mother asked kindly with a smile on her face.
“Oh, yes, it’s just… not what I expected,” he mumbled.
“Hmmm, strange, I thought you missed my cooking?” she smirked.
Dave paled at the realization. As he turned to face me from the kitchen door, I said, “Dave, I saw your message. If you have any criticisms of the food I’m cooking, tell me directly. I hope tonight’s dinner was as enjoyable to eat as it was.” “To prepare.”
When Dave was at a loss for words, his mother intervened and said, “I didn’t raise you to be disrespectful. You should apologize to your wife.”
He said, “I’m sorry.”
But I’m not done. “You know, Dave, I think I’ll send a picture of tonight’s meal to the boy’s chat, just like you did with my lasagna,” I added, pulling out my phone. Maybe they’d be happy to see your best recipes made “mom’s way”.
His eyes widened in horror at what I was about to do. He begged, “No, please no!”
I sent him a cold look. “Maybe next time you’ll think twice before mocking someone’s hard work.”
Dave never complained about my food after that day, at least not behind my back. He always made sure to express his gratitude when I was cooking.
His mother looked at him sternly. “Dave, you must be aware of the pain your remarks may cause. Your wife worked very hard to prepare that dinner. You should show her respect.”
Dave nodded, looking embarrassed. “Mom, I understand. I’m sorry.”
She replied, “Actions speak louder than words.” “You have to show her you appreciate what she’s doing.
Dave gave me a pitying look when he looked at me. “I’m sorry baby. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Well, now you know what it’s like to have your hard work disrespected,” I added, crossing my arms.
He nodded emphatically. “I swear I’ll never do that again. I promise to be more grateful in the future.”
His mother added, “That’s good. Why don’t we clean up together now? You’ll get a chance to show some gratitude.”
Dave immediately nodded, “Yes, Mom. We’ll clean up.”
Dave kept repeating how sorry he was and how much he appreciated the food as we cleaned the kitchen together. He looked apologetic and it was reassuring to know he had turned a corner.
Dave turned to face me later that evening as we were getting ready for bed, “I’m sorry for what I did.” I hurt you because I acted stupidly. I never want to do that again.”
I let out a breath as some of my anger subsided.
“Thanks, Dave, for the apology. But you have to remember that words have power. Be honest with me next time. We can work on things together.”
He nodded. “Yes, I will. I appreciate you giving me another chance.”
“Just make sure you don’t screw it up,” I replied, giving him a small smile.
As a courtesy, Dave prepared breakfast the next morning. He handed me a plate of pancakes with a shy smile. “I hope they’re okay.
I grinned as I took a bite. “They are perfect.
Dave smiled, clearly relieved. “I’m glad you like it.
Dave has since made a real effort to express how much he likes my cooking. He never complained again and our bond grew stronger because of it.
What is the lesson here? It’s best not to bite the hand that feeds you, especially if the combination has the potential to yield a much-needed payoff.
Sometimes all it takes is a little imagination, cooperation, and a wonderful mother-in-law to impart wisdom to someone.
After a 12-hour work shift, I came home to find that my husband had left me pizza crusts for dinner.
My husband didn’t try to get a job because he was so content not working. I finally lost it when one day he did something that broke the camel’s back! I decided to exact my revenge on him in a way that would force him to drastically change his behavior.
I greet you all. I am Amanda and I have been married for 45 years. I put in a lot of work and I don’t like papers.
I balanced all the housework with a full-time job. My husband of 47 years, Dave, does nothing but hang around the house.
When he finally got to me last week, I figured it was time for a little reward! This movie is great, so grab your popcorn! Before I go too far, let me give you some background information.
As a registered nurse I have to work 12-hour shifts. My job is mentally and physically demanding, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I adore it.
Dave has been out of work for over a year.
Although romanticized for artistic purposes, this work draws inspiration from real individuals and events. Names, characters, and details have been changed for privacy and story enhancement. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The publisher and author disclaim all responsibility for any misinterpretation and make no claims as to the veracity of the events or portrayal of the characters. This narrative is given “as is”, with the views of the characters being their own and not those of the publisher or author.
In conclusion, the lasagna incident and subsequent dinner hosted by my mother-in-law served as a poignant lesson for Dave. His thoughtless comments about my cooking revealed a deeper issue of respect and recognition in our relationship.
Using his own experiences as a basis for understanding the impact of his words, Dave gained a new perspective on the effort and care that goes into preparing food. His sincere apology and newfound gratitude showed that he had learned from the situation.
This experience not only improved our relationship but also reinforced the importance of honest communication and respect. Dave’s willingness to show appreciation and his effort to avoid repeating past mistakes emphasized the effectiveness of direct and constructive problem-solving. As we progressed, our bond grew stronger as he became more aware of how his actions and words affected those around him.
More broadly, this story underscores the value of handling complaints with empathy and creativity. Sometimes a little imagination and support from those who care about us can lead to meaningful changes in behavior and relationships.