When my boyfriend Arnold’s mom kept calling me “Scarlett” instead of Jasmine, I thought it was an honest mistake. But after months of this, I realized it was intentional. So, this Thanksgiving, I decided to serve up a dish she wouldn’t forget.
I met Arnold two years ago, and everything was perfect until I met his family. From the start, his mom, Melissa, couldn’t stop talking about his ex-girlfriend Scarlett, and I soon realized she was stuck in the past. Despite my attempts to bond, she continued calling me “Scarlett” or any other name but my own. After talking to Arnold, he confronted his mom, but she persisted.
At a family BBQ, Melissa suggested I cook the turkey, calling me the wrong name again. I saw it as a chance for revenge. I spent weeks perfecting my turkey recipe, but on Thanksgiving, I brought no turkey. When Melissa asked where it was, I sweetly reminded her she’d told “Jennifer” to cook. The room fell silent, and after some tension, Arnold stepped in, defending me.
The fallout was messy, with Melissa shouting and Arnold standing by my side. The next day, Arnold received a text from his mom, blaming me for the Thanksgiving chaos. He replied, affirming his choice of me, and that we needed space if she couldn’t respect our relationship.
Though the situation was difficult, I don’t regret standing up for myself. It was a hard lesson, but at least Arnold and I were on the same team. And maybe, just maybe, next Thanksgiving, Melissa will finally remember my name.