This Christmas, my brother Seth (16) and I (14) overheard Dad calling Mom “lazy” and mocking her cooking. He told Uncle Nick to buy her kitchen gadgets so she could “learn to cook properly.” Mom works full-time, does all the housework, and still helps us with school projects—so yeah, we were furious.
We hatched a plan. Seth and I emailed the rest of the family with a new wishlist for Mom: a designer bag, a spa day, skincare, a personalized necklace, and a cozy reading chair. And as a twist? Everyone was instructed to buy Dad fishing rods—lots of them.
Christmas morning, Dad opened gift after gift: five fishing rods stacked on his lap, confusion turning to frustration. Meanwhile, Mom unwrapped thoughtful presents and beamed with joy.
When Dad protested, Mom handed him a fishing rod and said, “Here—you’ll have plenty of time to learn to cook while you fish.”
The day was perfect. Mom felt appreciated, Dad learned a lesson, and Seth and I? Mission accomplished. Dad never called Mom lazy again.