For many families worldwide, dinner time is something to look forward to every day. Everyone comes together and spends time eating, talking, laughing. It’s healthy for your body and your soul.
But when does dinner time stop being about unity and start becoming a battleground?
As one Redditor perfectly describes, dinners don’t always end in pleasant conversation. Find out how one stolen dinner led to the ejection of her pregnant sister-in-law (SIL).
Unexpected Living Arrangement
The original poster (OP) starts out by saying that SIL moved into her house after she had a fight with her husband about what they should name the baby.
OP states that her SIL is a picky eater and whatever she likes did not mesh with what OP’s family typically ate. OP‘s family started cooking her favorites so she would feel comfortable, but OP could not eat those meals because of allergies.
A Menu Battle
Weeks went by. Every night it was the same thing. OP would scramble to come up with another dinner she could make that she wouldn’t be allergic to.
Over time, she grew increasingly tired of the situation and vented to her husband. OP’s husband noticed his wife’s distress and conceded to making two dinners for OP and his pregnant sister for the next few weeks.
One night, though, things came to a head. OP came home from work to find her husband and SIL eating dinner together. There was no food made for OP.
Tensions Boil Over
OP was understandably upset when plans were changed on her. OP kept quiet though, and ordered take-out instead. OP showered and had some computer work to catch up on, so she stayed upstairs for awhile.
OP went downstairs to discover that the entire meal she had ordered was gone from the kitchen. OP and her SIL’s relationship reached its rock bottom point when her SIL revealed she couldn’t resist the aroma from OP’s food and ended up eating her takeout meal.
OP couldn’t believe her ears and started yelling at SIL. OP stood up for herself and told SIL that she needed to pack her things and leave by morning.
SIL began crying but the thing that really got OP was how her husband was defending his sister by saying she’s pregnant and eating for two means she can eat whatever she wants. OP ended up arguing with her husband about it and neither budged.
Later, OP questioned herself if she reacted too harshly and posed her question to the online community.
Online Opinions
Reddit user Macladybulldog advised OP that she might have a bigger issue than the SIL herself.
“You don’t have a SIL problem. You have a husband problem. Don’t get me wrong: your SIL sounds like a spoiled, selfish, and entitled piece of work, pregnant or not. But your problem is that your husband is more concerned with her health and happiness than yours. He needs to get his priorities in the right place.”
Reddit user Angelaheidt agreed and called out SIL’s sense of entitlement, while also pointing out that being pregnant didn’t give her the right to be inconsiderate and lack human decency.
Angelaheidt commented that OP should sit down with her husband and firmly explain that things can’t continue how they are if their marriage is going to work.
“I’d tell hubby it’s her or you, because right now it seems like you’re the roommate and she’s the wife.”
More Scathing Opinions Poured In
Ldp1640 took a different angle, characterizing the SIL’s actions as disrespectful and greedy.
The user questioned the SIL eating dinner already then choosing to eat OPs dinner without asking, which questions her intentions.
Finally, ManedenDarque threw a twist into the mix. Could this be an attempt at power tripping on the SIL’s part?
“She seems to have a problem with you since she actively convinced your husband to not cook for you (I have questions about how he was convinced of this at all). Then she ate your food. This sounds a lot like a power play. Your hubby needs to rethink his loyalties too.”
The Verdict
Reaction to this post, since going viral on Facebook, has ranged from angry, to confused, to a few people who completely dismissed it as “just food.” When more information was revealed, it wasn’t about a stolen dinner anymore. It was about respect and stress.
The situation became an emotional strain on family relationships during an already distressing period.
One has to question where the line is drawn when it comes to boundaries and priorities with these types of relationships. There are responsibilities that lie within family and marital bonds.
Can OP and her husband reach a solution that keeps their family relationships and marriage strong? Only time will tell.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments. Do you think the OP from this social media post was wrong?
