My wife, Megan, poured her heart into our family’s monthly dinners, but my relatives only responded with cruel comments. After seeing her in tears too many times, I set up a secret test to uncover the truth. What I discovered broke my heart.
Our family has a tradition of hosting monthly dinners that started with my grandmother. It’s a time for everyone to gather, and I remember looking forward to those meals as a child. As we grew up, my siblings and I continued the tradition.
Megan was excited to join in, and soon she took over the cooking. But when she cooked for a family dinner, my sister Angela criticized the food, saying it was bland, while Mom added her complaints. Megan was devastated.
I tried to comfort her, assuring her the food was great, but my family kept being rude. The next dinner, Megan made roasted chicken and pasta, hoping to please them. But again, Mom and Angela were harsh, calling it awful. That’s when I overheard my mom and dad talk about how Megan wasn’t even trying.
I decided to test them. Megan cooked the same dishes again, but this time, I claimed I made them. Suddenly, my family loved the food. It was the same meals they’d criticized before. I then revealed the truth—Megan had cooked everything.
The room went silent. My family’s embarrassment was clear, but it didn’t change how they treated her. Later, Megan and I decided we wouldn’t attend any more family dinners. My family didn’t appreciate her, and I wouldn’t tolerate their disrespect.
I eventually learned from my sister Gloria that Mom and Angela had never truly approved of Megan. They thought she wasn’t “family enough.” I knew I made the right choice by standing by Megan.
We now create our own traditions, focused on love and respect, where every meal feels like home.