Christmas had always been a big deal in our family—filled with laughter, food, and thoughtful gifts. But this year, my dad, Greg, had a different idea.
A month before Christmas, he sent a family group chat message:
“Hey everyone, for Christmas this year, let’s get Mom some kitchen utensils. She needs all the help she can get—because, let’s face it, she’s a horrible cook. 😂”
I read the message twice, my jaw tightening. It wasn’t just rude; it was completely unfair. My mom, Linda, had never been passionate about cooking, but she still tried her best. And Dad had never once offered to cook a meal himself.
My siblings and I shared a knowing glance when we met up later that week. We weren’t about to let Dad’s joke go unanswered. Instead of following his plan, we decided to outplay him.
Christmas Morning
The tree sparkled with twinkling lights, and the smell of cinnamon and pine filled the air. Mom sat on the couch, completely unaware of what was about to unfold.
Dad grinned as he handed her the first present. “Go ahead, sweetheart. Let’s start with mine.”
Mom unwrapped it, revealing a high-end chef’s knife. She blinked in confusion. “Oh… thank you?”
The next gift, from my brother, was a cutting board. My sister handed her a fancy set of measuring spoons. My turn came, and I gave her a cookbook titled Cooking for the Clueless.
Dad burst into laughter. “See? We all agreed! Time to step up your game, honey.”
Mom’s smile faltered, but before she could respond, my younger brother, Jake, stood up. “Wait, Mom, we have one more gift for Dad.”
Dad looked confused as Jake handed him a huge, neatly wrapped box. He tore it open, expecting a new gadget or tool.
Inside was a full set of pots and pans, a high-end apron, and a beginner’s cooking class voucher.
The room erupted in laughter. Dad’s face turned red. “Wait… what’s this?”
I smirked. “Since you have such high standards for cooking, Dad, we figured it was your turn to start helping in the kitchen.”
Mom let out a chuckle, realizing what we had done. “Oh, Greg, this is perfect! You can finally show me how it’s done.”
Dad opened his mouth, then shut it, realizing he’d been completely outplayed.
For the first time, instead of Mom being stuck in the kitchen alone, Dad started cooking too. And while his first few meals were disasters, he quickly learned to appreciate how much effort went into every dish.
The next Christmas, Dad suggested a new tradition: cooking together as a family. And that was the best gift of all.
