Woman Refuses to Cook Thanksgiving Meal for Mother-in-Law After 12-Hour Shift

A couple planned to host Thanksgiving this year and invited the husbands parents to join them. The mother-in-law assumed she would be expected to cook, despite the woman working a 12-hour shift. When the woman suggested ordering food or dining out, the mother-in-law became upset.

In a Reddit post, the woman explained that a few weeks before Thanksgiving, her husband asked if his parents could visit for the holiday. "They live far away, so he wanted to check with me before confirming. I agreed, and they booked their flights," she shared.

Before Thanksgiving, the mother-in-law called and asked if cooking for four instead of two would be too burdensome. The woman explained that she had a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. shift and couldnt cook, offering to order food or go out instead. The mother-in-law became angry, insisting on a home-cooked meal. The woman firmly declined and ended the call.

Later, both in-laws called together to discuss the holiday. The mother-in-law suggested the woman get up early to prepare dishes, use crockpots, and finish cooking after her shift so they could eat by 7:30 p.m. The woman asked what the mother-in-law and her husband, who had the day off, would be doing. The mother-in-law said she could supervise and ensure nothing burned.

The husband then took the call and shifted the focus to himself, expressing interest in learning his mothers recipes. The mother-in-law enthusiastically agreed to guide him, planning to handle all cooking and prep work together. "Hes at the store buying everything on her list," the woman noted.

She expressed gratitude for her husband supporting her. "I especially appreciate him redirecting the focus to himself instead of making me the 'bad guy' for not cooking," she said. "I am the main earner, yet theres always an expectation that I cook and clean, while my husband works fewer hours and earns less."

She admitted feeling stressed about the upcoming days. Comments on Reddit showed support for her and praised her husband for managing the situation. One user wrote, You are very patient and kind. Im glad your husband is handling it as he should. Another added, Your husband kept the peace. I would have insisted on ordering out, and my reaction would not have been quiet. Kudos to his cool head.

Author: Sophia Brooks