Family member refuses to bring dessert for Christmas dinner after traveling across country to get there in time, in-laws accuse them of being selfish: ‘Wow ok, everyone else is bringing food’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Dec 26, 2024 2:00 PM EST

Ah, the holidays. Supposedly the most magical time of the year. A time when families come together, pretending they actually like each other for more than five minutes. But, in some cases like in the following story, relatives can't even give that five-minute-long grace period leaving us unable to down the eggnog of holiday cheer.

The original poster (OP) of this story is flying across the country for Christmas, arriving at their destination just in time for dinner at their sister's in-laws. The family who apparently don't understand how air travel works, asked them to bring dessert. Why shouldn't they? that's a totally doable thing when you're dragging suitcases through airports.

Then, Instead of showing some consideration when OP said they couldn't, the family doubled down, telling OP that "everyone else is bringing food" and hinting that they're not making enough effort. again, why not? absolutely and totally understandable, what's the difference between a half-hour car ride and a cross-country flight?

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  • 01
    S "They 100% know I'm traveling from far to be there"
    via Elena Photo
  • 02
    AITAH for saying I can't bring food to a party after traveling across the country?
    via popanon222
  • 03
    I am traveling to the opposite side of the country for the holidays. Getting there on Christmas Eve at 6PM, going to my sisters husbands family house for Christmas dinner.
    via popanon222
  • 04
    That family asked me to bring dessert for everyone. I told them won't be able to bring anything because I'm traveling. And got sent back with a "wow ok,
    via popanon222
  • 05
    everyone else is bringing food". They 100% know I'm traveling from far to be there. They also know what time I will be getting in. AITAH for not going to get something in this time?
    via popanon222

  • Anyway, all the Redditors who replied agreed on how so thoughtful it is of the family to guilt-trip someone who's already taking a cross-country trip just for Christmas. Which we all know is undeniably the most fun a person can have. And the comment section turned into a cocktail of smart, funny, and just a dash of purely devious dessert options for OP to get their family. 

  • 06
    shellersb 13h ago Tell them you'll bring trifle then tell them it was confiscated at the airport
    via shellersb
  • 07
    SummitJunkie7 • 12h ago Tell them you brought ice cream but it was liquid by the time you got through security and more than 3 oz.
    via SummitJunkie7
  • 08
    • camkats 14h ago NTA but I dare you to buy some candy bars at the airport
    via camkats
  • 09
    tfortrishy 13h ago If ever a situation called for a fruitcake...
    via tfortrishy
  • 10
    goldenzaftig 13h ago From a gas station
    via goldenzaftig
  • 11
    • Sea-Tea8982 13h ago Too bad it's a dessert. Gas station sushi is what they deserve!!
    via Sea-Tea8982
  • 12
    Rendeane 12h ago Just put canned whipped topping on the sushi and suddenly it is a fusion dessert.
    via Rendeane
  • 13
    Fossilhund 9h ago • Dessert gas station sushi
    via Fossilhund
  • 14
    miss_sabbatha • 4h ago • Wow that's next level evil.
    via miss_sabbatha
  • 15
    SeaLake4150 12h ago Edited 11h ago Malicious Compliance. Love it. You are landing at 6pm. Get luggage by 6:30. Arrive at their house...when 7:30??? 8:00??? And they ask you to bring food. Asinine.
    via SeaLake4150
  • 16
    Edit. Maybe dinner is the day after flying in. Stil asinine to ask someone traveling like this to bring food. Family should just be happy they made this kind of effort to travel. Edit 2. I like the other posters idea of a bag of holiday M&M's. Good solution.
    via SeaLake4150
  • 17
    AmalatheaClassic 13h ago Edited 8h ago • NTA but you really should bring a bag of McDonald's apple pies from the airport & drop it on the table like a petty j in front of everyone. Make sure it rattles the dishes when it thunks down. "I brought the pie you demanded!"
    via AmalatheaClassic
  • 18
    jensmith20055002 13h ago Edited 13h ago My aunt who lived an hour away always showed up with a large bag of M&Ms and a bowl from the dollar store. "I don't cook and I'm proud of it." That was her contribution for decades. There may have been some eye rolling but those M&Ms always got eaten haha!
    via jensmith20055002
  • 19
    Edit: NTA - seriously if they really wanted you to bring a dessert, they could have asked you before you booked the tickets so you could order a fancy/special cheese cake from Mama's Little Bakery in Chicago.
    via jensmith20055002
  • 20
    SpecialistAfter511 • 13h ago • Who the h I expects guests to at is traveling from out of town to provide a dish? You have no car. No kitchen. You're tired, and have a suitcase you're lugging around.
    via SpecialistAfter511
  • 21
    Snarky75 13h ago • I would have responded with "Wow is everyone else traveling thousands of miles too" Or can you do the shopping for me? Are you expected to bake in someone else's kitchen when you get there?
    via Snarky75
  • 22
    Ok Stable 7501 • 13h ago • Top 1% Commenter NTA and I'd rethink these plans. Can you change the ticket to a less b*tchy destination?
    via Ok_Stable
  • 23
    Happy Dog1819 • 13h ago • Stop at a dollar store and then show up with two bags' worth of store brand cookies and non- holiday candy. Sorry, Stacey, it was the best I could do before my flight.
    via Happy_Dog1819
  • 24
    SerenaDreamy • 9h ago • like , ur literally landing at 6pm the night b4. how do they expect u to magically whip up a dessert while jet-lagged n exhausted? they're just being petty bc
    via SerenaDreamy
  • 25
    everyone else is bringing something, but ur situation is diff. if it's that serious, they can pick up an extra dessert themselves. u got enough on ur plate just traveling there.
    via SerenaDreamy
  • 26
    Sharp-Discussion5821 13h ago • Your already paying to get there, they should not have asked you to bring anything ... it's ridiculous
    via Sharp-Discussion5821
  • 27
    changanbunny • 13h ago These are incredibly ride people. Ask if they'd like you to pick something up at the airport or pack it in your carryon for TSA to confiscate.
    via changanbunny
  • 28
    If they're fine with airport food, by all means get a bunch of pastries or whatever you can find. Never mind the cost and hassle of coming across the country, expecting an out of town guest to bring food for the event is bizarre.
    via changanbunny

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christmas family drama demands aita holiday season drama AITAH flight demanding selfish family feud merry christmas in laws Travel family sister holidays
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