Our Dad Asked the Whole Family to Buy Mom Kitchen Utensils for Christmas as She’s a ‘Horrible Cook’ — We Decided to Outplay Him

When my brother Seth and I overheard our dad calling Mom “lazy” and mocking her cooking, something snapped. Mom works full-time, keeps the house running, and still finds energy for everyone else. Hearing Dad reduce all that to a joke behind her back felt unforgivable.

So we planned quietly.

Two weeks before Christmas, we emailed every family member. We explained that Dad had asked them to buy Mom kitchen gadgets—but that she deserved better. We sent a wishlist of things she’d always wanted but never bought for herself: a designer purse, a spa day, a personalized necklace, and a cozy reading chair.

Then came the twist.

We asked everyone to buy Dad fishing rods. As many as possible.

Christmas morning was unforgettable. Mom unwrapped gift after gift that made her glow with happiness. Dad, meanwhile, kept opening box after box—each revealing yet another fishing rod. By the fifth one, he exploded, demanding to know what was going on.

That’s when the truth came out.

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