'The turkey was a little dry': 35-year-old bachelor refuses to host the holidays for his family again after they nitpick his every little detail from last year

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Sep 14, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

Hosting a holiday meal for the family is an ordeal; you need multiple courses, decorations, a big table, parking spots, and most importantly, thick skin to withstand the complaints. A man, much like many of us—a 35-year-old living in an apartment—was cornered into hosting the Christmas family holiday last year. With the burden of expectations on his back, he worked extra hard to make it as amazing as he could.

However, this man's family still found ways to nitpick his efforts, which is why there's no chance in heck he'll be hosting again this year. 

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  • AITJ for refusing to host Christmas after my family complained about last year's dinner?
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  • Cheezburger Image 10553240832
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Last year, I (35M) hosted Christmas for the first time. I cooked a big meal, cleaned the house, decorated, the works. It
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  • wasn't perfect, but I worked hard. Afterwards, my sister and mom both made comments like, "The turkey was a little dry" and "Your house feels cramped for all of us."
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  • This year, everyone just assumed I'd host again. I told them no, I'm taking Christmas off, and if they want a big gathering,
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  • someone else can step up. Cue outrage. My mom says I'm "punishing everyone for a few harmless comments," my
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  • sister says I'm being "petty," and my dad is disappointed we won't all be together at my place.
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  • But honestly, why would I put in all the effort just to be criticized? AITJ?
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  • BlueberryOk3969 No way would i host again. If they are so brilliant. Let your mom and sister co it. You dont need that disrespect in your own home. It wasnt harmless to you after all the work you did.
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  • Melodic-Dark6545. Before you hosted, where did all of you spend Christmas? because that's exactly the same place where it can be hosted
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  • now, since that place "doesn't feel cramped for all of them". Well, it happens that those "few harmless comments"
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  • did harm you!!!! I don't think you are being "petty" either, they criticized your hosting, they don't have to suffer it anymore
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  • Slight-Rate7309. NTJ. I've noticed over the years that sometimes family members who feel comfortable with each other will say things they'd never say to a mere
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  • acquaintance. We tend to overlook how much these little comments hurt, and I think many of us have been guilty of it at one time or another. Your post is an
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  • effective reminder that when a guest in someone else's home, it's gratitude and compliments only. If you can't say something nice, then say nothing at all.
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  • Family tends to think of their little mean jabs as "constructive criticism" or "character building," but it's really just some relative on relative cruelty. As one reader mentions in the comments, if you wouldn't dare to diss a stranger, why would you hurl insults at a beloved family member? Sometimes people just have to learn the hard way that their mean comments aren't just words, they're hurtful and can cost you a venue for your family holiday meal.

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christmas family drama dads famiies drama kids brother hosting siblings moms parenting dad host story family sibling sister stories parent mom cousins holidays parents
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