‘They turned down a HOME COOKED CHRISTMAS DINNER': Server flabbergasted when her monster-in-law insists on having Christmas dinner at her restaurant, forcing her to work on her day-off

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Dec 11, 2023 1:00 PM EST

There's nothing better than a home cooked dinner during the holidays. Although things get crazy when family rolls into town, there's always the solace of having a delicious multi-course meal together of all your wintry favorites accompanied by the coveted leftovers that you'll have waiting for you in the fridge. When you have insufferable in-laws, the only consolation prize of enduring a family dinner is that take-home tupperware they fill at the end of the night. 

So what would you do if your mashed potatoes and ham were taken away from you? 

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  • 01
    "Run from that family"
    via u/canva

  • In our next story, one woman faces the ultimate holiday challenge when her mother-in-law oversteps her boundaries. After losing her corporate job, u/TravelnPookie was forced to go out and snag a job as a waitress at a local restaurant. Well, apparently to add insult to injury, OP's mother-in-law had the audacity to suggest that they all skip the traditional home-cooked dinner to have a meal at OP's work. 

  • Not only was OP denied the opportunity for salvation in the form of leftovers, but she was also being subjected to the insult of literally being her MIL's server at her job. Scroll for the entire story that literally gets worse and worse as you read on. 

    However, you be the judge of OP's response to her pushy MIL and the Internet's overwhelming response of empowerment that might just inspire you to stand up to your own in-laws.

  • 02
    r/AmIthe . Posted by u/Traveln Pookie 16 hours ago D AITA for expressing to my in-laws that I don't want to be their server for their family's Christmas dinner?
    via u/TravelnPookie
  • 03
    So, I'm a newlywed, and my in-laws are rolling into town for Christmas and staying my husband's and my new house. They mentioned wanting to dine out for Christmas dinner, but I offered to whip up a home-cooked feast instead. Unfortunately, they turned down the offer.
    via u/TravelnPookie
  • 04
    Now, here's where it gets interesting. I am currently working as a server in our town after recently being laid off from my corporate job. Lucky for me, the restaurant is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas.
    via u/TravelnPookie
  • 05
    Well, turns out my mother-in-law had other plans. She called up my workplace without speaking to me beforehand and asked for me to be their server for their entire Christmas dinner. I found out through my husband that I'd be playing the role of their server for their festive family celebration, and my Christmas "gift" would be a sweet tip and takeout from my restaurant.
    via u/TravelnPookie
  • 06
    Seems a bit odd, especially since our restaurant isn't even open on Christmas Eve or Christmas and I'd be available to spend time with them on those days. They're scheduling this dinner the day before we close and making it their designated family celebration.
    via u/TravelnPookie
  • 07
    I politely declined because, let's be real, being excluded from Christmas dinner while working as their server? That's a hard pass from me. Unfortunately, I was told that I was being dramatic and there's nothing weird about me being their server for their family's Christmas dinner. Thoughts, anyone?
    via u/TravelnPookie
  • 08
    fallingintopolkadots 16 hr. ago Colo-rectal Surgeon [44] NTA. that's insulting and spiteful AF. We don't want you to cook or be a participant in our Christmas celebration, but we'd love to come to your workplace and have you serve us, so technically you're there with us but you can't contribute to the conversation and are required to be polite because it's your job. And to say your gift is the tip and takeout?! What the ever loving kind of is that?! I'd tell your boss that you request to not ser
    via u/fallingtopolkadots
  • 09
    TravelnPookie OP 16 hr. ago. edited 15 hr. ago I felt like it was very offensive and couldn't really understand why they thought it was weird that I said no. If the roles were switched, my family would never do that to their child in law. I've served my husband, friends, and family in the past but not on a holiday where I was being isolated. I feel like I am being gaslit.
    via u/TravelnPookie
  • 10
    Vixtoria01 16 hr. ago Partassipant [2] They are gaslighting you. They went so far out of their way to put you in this God awful, weird as spot. They turned down a HOME COOKED CHRISTMAS DINNER to do this. That's beyond weird, that's insane. Please do not entertain the idea that they're in anyway right. You're def NTA and honestly? Run from that family.
    via u/Vixtoria01
  • 11
    OkOil390 16 hr. ago If even my mother suggested this to me, I would never tell my wife, because I would never agree to this insane degrading plan in the first place. I'd tell them no. OP needs to sit down with Momma's boy husband and let him know he needs to cut that umbilical cord ASAP and that he's married to her and not his mommy.
    via u/OkOil390
  • 12
    Thelibraryvixen. 15 hr. ago OP needs to book a plane ticket to a sunny beach town for Christmas. 378 Reply Share cakivalue 14 hr. ago If I had the money I'd send her somewhere nice. I've seen, heard, experienced a lot of petty, disrespectful and spiteful things in my life but this just blew my mind.
    via u/Thelibraryvixen
  • 13
    poet_andknowit 13 hr. ago I suspect that momster-in-law is very disdainful of OP's work as a waitress since her corporate job layoff, she probably blames OP for the layoff!) And wants to openly and publicly shame and "punish" her for it! She probably wouldn't even last one day as a waitress or in any other kind of service/retail job.
    via u/poet_andknowit
  • 14
    DexLofur549 16 hr. ago I would be running to the nearest court house for an annulment. If he thinks this is ok then he will always side with his family over this type of bad behaviour.
    via u/DexLofur549
  • 15
    Weird-Roll6265 - 17 hr. ago Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like making someone perform in front of their boss with their family watching. No pressure or anything.... 284 Reply Share Yolandi2802 16 hr. ago Tell them all to broomstick. Including your of a husband. 1. On a
    via u/Weird-Roll6265
  • 16
    NoodlyNoodling. 16 hr. ago They're also making her work for her Christmas "present" by making her gift a good tip Reply Share 107 Murder Machine561 14 hr. ago I don't see why she's complaining. They don't usually tip the help. She'll probably get anywhere from 5-10%! That's extra cash she can use for her husband's gift.
    via u/NoodlyNoodling
  • 17
    Granolamommie 17 hr. ago Almost like they are doing it on purpose. To make her feel degraded → 193 д 7 more replies Reply Share Over Knee 7026 · 18 hr. ago Not dramatic, not weird, NTA - that's just hideous.
    via u/Granolamommie
  • 18
    AlexRyang 19 hr. ago You are being gaslit. I'm a dude and I would be livid if my family tried to do that to a SO. 448 1 more reply Reply Share kawaeri 18 hr. ago Also your tip is your Xmas present. Who makes their DIL or child work for their Xmas present. If you don't work hard enough does she reduce your present?
    via u/AlexRyang
  • 19
    Turtle_ti 16 hr. ago edited 14 hr. ago Nothing says Merry Christmas quite like saying "dance for us monkey" while throwing change at them and reminding them they have to pay taxes on that change they collect.
    via u/Turtle_ti
  • 20
    Reasonable-Sale8611 18 hr. ago Partassipant [2] That's because you ARE being gaslit. How does your husband feel about this? If he feels any way except deeply insulted on your behalf, you have big problems. 301 Reply Share rocketmn69 18 hr. ago An annulment is in order. I guess the family doesn't like you?
    via u/Reasonable-Sale8611
  • 21
    mumpie 18 hr. ago This is really insulting. I would tell the in-laws that something came up and they can't stay at your home. NTA.
    via u/mumpie
  • 22
    asecretnarwhal 18 hr. ago Enthusiast [5] Personally, I would let them eat out on their own and would not have them stay at your house nor celebrate with you. "Since it's not your priority to celebrate Christmas with me, I'll take a pass on any celebrations with you" Reply Share 161 ... gardengoblin 94. 17 hr. ago Call in sick last minute and change the locks while they're out.
    via u/asecretnarwall
  • 23
    S mifflewhat 18 hr. ago Partassipant [4] There are no words for how insulting it is. is wrong with your husband, that he does not stand up against such a blatantly disrespectful thing?
    via u/mifflewhat

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christmas aita day off leftovers christmas dinner server work insulting holiday monster in law dinner in laws mother in law insult family Reddit
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