Christmas is a time for love, laughter, and family. But for my brother Seth and me, it was also a chance to teach our dad a lesson he’d never forget.
I’m Stella, and I’m fourteen. My life is a mix of school, arguing with Seth, and trying to keep our home tidy. Our mom is the glue that holds us together. She works full-time, does all the household chores, and still finds time to help Seth with his school projects.
Our dad, on the other hand, thinks he’s the king of the house. He does nothing to help and spends his days watching TV and making snide comments about Mom’s cooking. But Seth and I had had enough.
It started when we overheard Dad calling Mom “lazy” and saying she was a “horrible cook.” We knew we had to do something. That night, we hatched a plan to teach Dad a lesson.
We sent an email to our entire family, telling them about Dad’s comments and asking them to help us make Mom feel special. We gave them a list of gifts Mom had been wanting but never bought for herself. And then we added one final touch: we asked everyone to buy Dad fishing rods instead of the kitchen gadgets he had requested.
The responses started rolling in immediately. Our family was on board, and soon we had a plan in motion. On Christmas morning, the living room was filled with laughter and excitement. Mom was overjoyed with her gifts, and Dad was… well, Dad was confused.
As he unwrapped gift after gift, his face turned redder and redder. “What’s going on here?” he demanded. “Where are the kitchen gadgets?”
Seth and I exchanged a mischievous glance. We knew the time had come to confront Dad about his behavior. “You told everyone to get Mom kitchen stuff because you think she’s lazy, right?” Seth asked, his voice calm but firm.
Dad stuttered, trying to defend himself, but it was too late. Mom had had enough. “You’ve been complaining about me behind my back, and the kids had to step in because you couldn’t appreciate me?” she asked, her voice trembling with anger. “You’re impossible, Tanner!”
The room fell silent, and for a moment, it seemed like time had stopped. Then Mom stood up, took one of the fishing rods, and placed it firmly in Dad’s lap. “Here,” she said. “You’ll have plenty of time to think about your jokes while you’re learning to fish with your new toys.”
Dad looked defeated, and for once, he had nothing to say. The rest of the day was perfect. Mom basked in the love and attention from our family, and Dad slunk away, his tail between his legs.
As the day drew to a close, Mom pulled Seth and me into a tight hug. “Thank you, my babies,” she whispered. “I don’t need fancy things, but knowing you see how hard I work means everything to me.”
Seth and I smiled at each other, knowing we had done something special. We had stood up for our mom and taught our dad a lesson he’d never forget. And as for the fishing rods? Let’s just say they were a reminder that sometimes, it’s the thought that counts – not the gift itself.
