My husband didn’t anticipate that I would defend our kids and myself when he offered me a terrifying ultimatum. I showed him that he was being unreasonable when we already had so much to be thankful for. He begged ME for pity as his ultimatum came to an end! I never imagined myself in this situation, but here I am, facing a decision. My spouse’s one demand put me in a tight spot and forced me to take extreme steps. But I had to take action because of that demand. Danny, my spouse, has consistently been a successful businessman and a loving father.
He works long hours at the workplace and has been a good provider for our family. I can now raise our five lovely girls while being a stay-at-home mother because of this. His aspirations to have a son “to carry on the family name” have, however, recently evolved into demands. And now those requests are transformed into threats!One evening after supper he stated, “Lisa, we NEED to have a sixth child.” He spoke in a somber, even icy tone. “We already have FIVE daughters, Danny. Do you want me to continue having children until we get a son? I answered, sensing the anxiety building. However, don’t kids bring you blessings? Is it really so difficult? His remarks hurt. Even though we’ve had this debate numerous times, something felt different this time. It had the air of an ultimatum. We kept going around in circles, neither of us ready to give up on our decisions. He threatened to consider DIVORCING me if I refused to have a son for him, that’s how bad our disagreement was! “Do you mean that if I didn’t give you a son, you would leave me?” My voice trembled as I asked. He murmured, “I didn’t say THAT,” and averted his gaze. However, the inference was evident.
If I didn’t do as HIS wishes dictated, he was open to the possibility of divorce. We said our goodbyes and headed our separate ways to get ready for bed after that. I lay awake that night thinking about our chat. How could he treat the life we’d created together with such contempt? All of our daughters are vibrant, individual, and extraordinary. I can’t think of our family in any other manner. I had to explain to him what he was requesting of me, of the two of us. Furthermore, what do you know? I thought of a clever method to SHOW him exactly what it means to raise five kids by yourself before I closed my eyes and went to sleep! I got up extra early the very next day, while everyone was still asleep. I drove to my late mother’s old country home after packing my bags.
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I ignored all of his calls and texts and turned off the ringer on my phone. “The Drama That Unfolds When You Leave Your Husband at Home Alone with Five Children” is my favorite show of the day, so I settled in to watch it after making myself breakfast and a steaming cup of coffee. With the security cameras we had put at our house, I was able to see everything in real time. A RUDE awakening was in store for Danny! As soon as he was awake, he got ready for work. But when he heard the kids making a commotion, he put an end to his plans. He questioned our rascals, “Where’s your mother and why aren’t y’all dressed and ready for breakfast?” When my babies disregarded him and carried on playing and jumping on beds, it made me proud. My spouse called my name and searched for me before realizing I wasn’t at home. Then he began phoning me, and I saw the call go through. He became irate and exclaimed, “What the hell, Lisa,” before hanging up after the sixth missed call. He was unable to leave our small kids alone, thus he was unable to go to work. The first morning was a total bust and hilarious! When he attempted to prepare breakfast, he burned the toast and ruined the orange juice all over the place! The children were playing and without bothering to put on clothes. I was having a blast, and he was utterly overwhelmed!”Stop running, Emma!” Please put on your shoes, Jessica. I heard him yelling, his voice strained. “Daddy, this cereal doesn’t appeal to me.” Emily pushed her bowl away and whimpered. “So, what do you WANT?” he questioned, getting agitated. “I insist on pancakes!” she exclaimed. Danny massaged his temples and moaned. Alright, let me prepare pancakes. Feeling left out, little Jessica added, “I want cake and scrambled eggs!” Never one to be left out, Emma insisted, “Please, waffles and fresh cream!” I was positive that if his temples were hurting previously, they were now throbbing! The situation became worse during the course of the day! He attempted to assist them with their online coursework, but they were constantly getting sidetracked and leaving! He begged, “Jessica, please concentrate on your math homework.” “Daddy, I don’t understand it,” the girl exclaimed. He sat next to her and gazed at the TV. “All right, let’s work it out together.” In the middle of tending to the kids, a call from work arrived. Based on the discussion and Danny’s sincere apologies, it appeared that he had neglected to mark himself as absent for the day! My spouse was unable to determine what our kids preferred to eat for lunch.
They ultimately had a picnic with inane munchies as a result. “May we please have jelly and peanut butter?” Emma asked. He said, “I’m not sure we have any,” as he looked in the pantry. “Maybe just some jelly?” she proposed. Although watching Danny suffer in this way was heartbreaking, it was well worth the laughs! He appeared to be about to lose it, and the house was a complete mess with toys all over the place! He moaned, “Why is Play-Doh on the carpet?” Ask Emily, I’m not sure,” Jessica answered. Emily began enumerating all the reasons why she wasn’t the offender as soon as she heard her name! “I exclusively use blue and purple Play-Doh to play. I just walked a little bit on the carpet in one place; I wasn’t sitting on it. I. My spouse jokingly interrupted her before she could say anything further. “All right, Emily! Alright, I understand! Would you kindly take it down for Daddy? The girls decided to dress up in the evening, and Danny HAD to join in! They made him pretend to be a princess while donning a feather boa and tiara!”Daddy, you’re so beautiful!” Emily chuckled. He mumbled, “This is ridiculous,” yet he grinned at their happiness. My spouse appeared disoriented and really worn out. The very last straw was bedtime! They continued slinking out of their rooms, insisted on stories, and DEMANDED to go to bed! I was so proud!Emma pleaded, “Just one more story, Daddy.””Okay, but THEN it’s really time for bed,” he said, growing impatient. Danny was clearly on the edge of collapse by the end of the second day! He began pleading with me in his desperate messages to return and assist. He texted, “My angel, please, I can’t do this alone.” He even submitted a video of himself pleading for mercy while on his knees. “My dear, I apologize. Please return home. You are necessary to me. The fact that he recorded the video in our closed bathroom while the children DEMANDED he come outside and play added to the humor of the footage! I made up my mind to head home. Danny was the first person to come to me when I went in; he looked more relieved than I had ever seen! “I really apologize,” he said. “I will no longer put pressure on you to have a son.” He squeezed me till I was almost out of breath! He pledged, “I promise to spend more time with the family. I realize now how much you do.” I felt moved. “We can talk about the POSSIBILITY of having a sixth child if you genuinely promise to spend more time with us and help out more,” I added. He gave a forceful nod. “I swear, I swear,” Just just don’t ever leave me with kids alone for so long again! He fulfilled his word from that day on, and we both chuckled. He showed greater interest in our family and an appreciation for the labor-intensive nature of raising our current children. Positive changes started to occur in our life. In an effort to be more present, Danny started arriving home from work early and occasionally worked from home. He took on nighttime responsibilities, attended school functions, and assisted with homework! To the awe of our girls, my once-misled spouse even learned how to braid hair! “Observe, mother! My father braided my hair. One morning, Jessica smiled. “Darling, you did a great job,” I said. Danny gave me a gentle smile as we sat around the breakfast table one Saturday morning. He said, “I’ve been thinking.” Perhaps having a son isn’t the main reason. Maybe it has to do with appreciating our family. I returned the smile, a wave of warmth coursing through my chest. “Danny, that is all I have ever wanted.” We carried on having breakfast while chatting and laughing, the stress of the previous few weeks dissipating. We discovered true satisfaction during those carefree times spent with our girls. My spouse never again broached the subject of having a sixth kid after months had passed.
He had undergone a transformation, showing greater involvement and closeness to our family than before. He was loved by the girls, and there was laughing and happiness in our house.”Will you please attend my dance recital, Daddy?” One day Emily asked. Of course, my love. He said, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. And he fulfilled his word! Every school play, every soccer match, and every recital he attended. His renewed love and care allowed our daughters to grow and thrive. Danny held my hand one evening while we watched our daughters play in the backyard. “I’m grateful, Lisa,” he murmured. “For all the things.” Tears were starting to spring up in my eyes as I squeezed his fingers. “I appreciate your understanding,” I answered. Although our path wasn’t simple, it helped us get closer. My spouse gained an appreciation for his family. And I mustered the courage to defend our daughters as well as myself. We were more resilient than ever, equipped to handle any difficulties life presented. And I knew we had found our happily ever after as we sat there under the evening sun, watching our girls chase fireflies.
My In-Laws’ Christmas Gift Felt like a Slap in the Face
When Alicia and Matt’s Christmas holiday trip to Jamaica is canceled due to his father’s open-heart surgery, they decide that spending time with the family is more important. Weeks later, Nancy, Matt’s mother, promises the couple a gift… only to take it back later and replace it with something unexpected.
Every family has its quirks, but my husband’s family is exceptional. They’re the kind who do everything together, who share big plans, and who never think twice about helping out.
I’d always admired that sense of closeness; it wasn’t something that I was used to with my own family. So, I was grateful for how they had welcomed me into their own.
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
“Your family is the best gift you could have given me, Matt,” I told my husband early on in our relationship.
“Alicia, they’re your family now, too. You can count on them for whatever you need. I promise you, they’ll always be there for you. Especially my mom.”
And you know what? I believed him.
A smiling couple | Source: Midjourney
This year, we planned a holiday of our own—a Christmas trip to Jamaica. It was supposed to be a special reset for us after months of long hours at work, endless bills, and a list of stressors we hadn’t been able to shake. We found a website that offered a great discount, and before we knew it, we were booked and almost ready to go.
All we wanted was to let our hair down, drink cocktails on the beach, and get in as much sunshine as we could.
But in early November, my father-in-law, Derek, suffered a heart attack, and within days, he was scheduled for open-heart surgery.
A man sleeping in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney
We didn’t think twice about staying. Derek was Matt’s biggest supporter, and we knew that if the roles were reversed, Derek would be the first one at his bedside.
Losing our vacation was nothing if it meant being there to support Matt’s family. And if I’m honest, being with them at Christmas felt like the right thing to do. We could have our beach vacation another time.
After Derek’s surgery, we all settled into a new holiday plan: Christmas at home, but together.
A man sleeping on a couch | Source: Midjourney
“It’s nothing that different from our usual Christmas plans,” Matt said as he read the messages on the family group chat. “At least we’ll all be together, and Dad will get the support he needs.”
“I agree,” I said. “And I’ll make all his favorites, just heart-condition-friendly versions of them.”
A few weeks after Thanksgiving, my mother-in-law, Nancy, called and mentioned they wanted to do something extra for us. Of course, I didn’t expect anything, but her offer took me by surprise.
A couple sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney
She said she and Derek would be giving us a generous gift.
“Nancy, please, you don’t have to do anything,” I said.
“Alicia, just listen, darling,” she said. “Let me speak. I know that you and Matt have been going through so much this year, especially when the plumbing needed to be sorted out. It’s been heavy…”
An older woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
“It hasn’t been easy, Nancy,” I said. “You’re right. But we did get most of our trip refunded, so we’re good.”
“Darling, stop,” she said. “Derek and I talked, and we’d like to offer you some financial help. Use it however you need, okay?”
When she told me the amount, I nearly fainted. They were offering us the equivalent of a full month’s salary.
I felt my voice catch.
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
“Are you serious?” I managed, barely believing it.
“Of course, darling,” she replied warmly. “We know you and Matt had a hard year. We want to help you two catch up.”
I hung up the phone, practically in tears. For the first time in ages, I felt relief instead of worry. I imagined what this money could mean for us.
A woman holding her phone | Source: Midjourney
We could catch up on bills, pay off credit card debt, maybe even have a little left over for something fun. It was a gift that meant security, peace, and breathing room.
For the first two weeks, I felt lighter than I had in ages. I pictured us on a holiday without the burden of stress hanging over us. I even allowed myself to imagine having enough left over to start saving again.
For the first time, our financial worries seemed less overwhelming.
A smiling woman daydreaming | Source: Midjourney
But then, everything changed with a single text.
Matt and I were sitting down to breakfast when he got a message from his mom. He was salting his eggs when his phone buzzed, rattling the cutlery on the table.
Hi darling, Dad and I have changed our minds a bit on the Christmas gift. We’ve decided that instead of the money, we thought you & Ali would enjoy a weekend at a spa. We’ve prepaid it already. January.
Food on a table | Source: Midjourney
“What?” I whispered, reading the message over Matt’s shoulder, my face hot.
“They didn’t mention anything about this before,” Matt mumbled, scrolling back through the message thread as if he’d missed a message from his mother.
The phone chimed again.
A man using his phone | Source: Midjourney
We decided to cover Maddie and Josh’s accommodation in Italy this summer. They’re planning a big family trip. We thought it would be a nice way to make sure they could join us! xx
As the meaning of the words sank in, I felt like I’d been slapped across the face.
“They… they’re just going to take it back?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “The money, the promise… they’re just dropping it for a spa weekend?
A spa setting | Source: Midjourney
Matt looked at me, clearly at a loss.
“I don’t know what to say. They probably thought it’d be… you know, relaxing for us?” he said.
Relaxing?
I imagined Maddie and Josh taking photos in Italy, sending them to the family group chat for us to see…
A couple in Italy | Source: Midjourney
I felt my hands clench as the weight of this entire thing hit me. I’d been holding onto this promise for weeks now. I had pictured how we’d finally get out of our financial rut, and now we’d been handed a weekend of massages and facials instead.
I struggled to hold my composure.
“Matt,” I began. “You know that I’m not ungrateful…”
A woman getting a facial | Source: Midjourney
I began pacing the kitchen as I tried to gather my thoughts.
“It’s just… that money was a solution. It was something real, something we could count on to make things easier. Now, they’re giving us a spa weekend? And… paying for accommodation in Italy?”
“I get it, Alicia. I get it, babe, trust me,” Matt replied, running a hand through his hair. “But it’s hard. They’re trying to do something nice, you know?”
A man holding his head | Source: Midjourney
“Are they?” I shot back, frustrated. “Or are they just throwing money at something flashy because they don’t actually understand what we need? Your sister’s going to Italy with them, Matt. Italy. With her boyfriend. And she earns way more than I make in a month.”
Matt was silent as he buttered his toast slowly.
“We’re over here barely scraping by, Matt. I don’t know what else to tell you. I’m just disappointed. I wasn’t banking on the money, but I just imagined all the stress being… removed from our lives.”
Buttered toast on a plate | Source: Midjourney
I sank back down into my seat. I wanted to put my head down and cry. I felt like I’d just lost something so important to me. But in reality, it wasn’t even mine to feel the loss over.
The money was Nancy and Derek’s. We had no claim over it at all.
Matt sighed and leaned closer to me, his shoulders touching mine.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t know, love,” he said. “Maybe they do see it that way. I don’t think they understand what it’s like to struggle. My sister’s never had to worry, and Mom and Dad don’t live in our reality.”
Part of me wanted to pick up the phone and call my mother-in-law, to tell her exactly how I felt. I imagined the conversation, my words measured and calm.
I would explain that her change of plans felt hurtful, that throwing around large sums only to take them back seemed thoughtless.
A woman holding her head | Source: Midjourney
I imagined saying something like, “Look, we don’t need a spa weekend. I don’t need a spa weekend. I need help.”
But how would that go? Would she understand, or would she just think I was ungrateful? Would she tell me I was spoiled for wanting more than they offered?
A woman with her hands on her hips | Source: Midjourney
As I ran through the possible outcomes in my mind, another thought crept in. Christmas with Matt’s family had always felt lavish, almost alien to Matt’s and my current financial reality.
His parents loved to surprise everyone with over-the-top gifts, like high-end gadgets and designer clothes.
Meanwhile, I was trying my best to keep up with it all, to pretend I wasn’t doing mental calculations every time they handed me something expensive.
A pile of Christmas presents | Source: Midjourney
I didn’t want to be that person, but the discomfort lingered, year after year. This time, though, it wasn’t about receiving something over the top.
It was about a broken promise, one that could have changed things for us.
I looked at my now-cold cup of coffee, feeling nauseous.
Matt finally spoke, his tone gentle.
A cup of coffee on a table | Source: Midjourney
“Look, if it’s really bothering you, maybe we should talk to them. I’ll go with you. We can tell them how we’re feeling without sounding so rude.”
I shook my head.
“No, love,” I said. “I understand… and it wouldn’t help. We’ll just come across as being petty or greedy. They won’t understand why this hurts us.”
A woman with her hand on her head | Source: Midjourney
Matt didn’t argue, but I could see the sadness in his eyes.
He knew as well as I did that this wasn’t just about the gift. It was about feeling overlooked, like our struggles didn’t matter in the world they lived in.
It was about a reminder that we’d never truly belong to the same world.
I took a deep breath.
A man looking sad | Source: Midjourney
“We’ll accept the spa weekend,” I said, the words coming out flat, resigned. “We’ll go, and we’ll pretend it’s everything we wanted. Because that’s what they expect. It’s easier that way, right?”
Matt’s hand found mine.
“I’m so sorry, my love,” he said. “I wish I could fix this.”
I looked at him, fighting back tears.
A couple holding hands | Source: Midjourney
“I know you do, Matt,” I said. “I just wish… I wish they understood us a little more. That’s all.”
And with that, I realized the real gift I wanted wasn’t money or a spa weekend. It was understanding, a sense of connection that went beyond their gestures.
And somehow, I knew that was the one thing they’d never be able to give us.
A couple sitting together | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another for you |
My Stepmother ‘Gifted’ Me an Old, Smelly Couch — When She Saw What I Did With It, She Demanded $2,500 From Me
When Nicole’s stepmother calls her saying that she has a gift for her, Nicole goes over excitedly. But when she discovers what the gift is, Nicole is torn between keeping her father happy or retaliating. Finally, she accepts it and plans to transform it into something completely different. In the end Nicole is ready to claim the rewards of her hard work.
Ever have one of those moments where you should’ve just trusted your gut? Yep, that was me, standing in my stepmother’s basement, staring at the ugliest, smelliest couch I’d ever seen.
A close up of a young woman | Source: Midjourney
My stepmother, Susan, called me earlier that morning with a grand gesture for my birthday. She insisted that she had a “priceless” gift that was too big for her to move alone.
“You’re going to love it, Nicole!” she said. “It’s absolutely priceless! Come over later today, and we’ll show it to you.”
Now, this is the point when I tell you that Susan and I had never been close. In fact, if I’m being honest, she barely tolerated my existence. So, imagine my absolute surprise when she offered me a gift.
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
“Curiosity killed the cat, Nic,” I said to myself as I got into the car.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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