Sarah thought her marriage was solid until the night she discovered a gourmet menu in the fridge, demanding she cook extravagant meals after a grueling day at work. The ensuing confrontation revealed deep cracks in their relationship, sparking a heated argument that left them both reeling .
I had always prided myself on my work ethic. As a successful project manager at a bustling tech company, I often worked late and took projects home on weekends. Despite my demanding job, I managed to keep the household running smoothly. I juggled housework, grocery shopping, and the occasional dinner out with friends.Tom, my husband, had a steady job as an accountant. He kept regular hours, rarely had to stay late, and had weekends off. However, he often complained of being tired and stressed. I didn’t mind taking on a little more; I loved him very much and was committed to our marriage.
But that day I went too far. I was returning home after another exhausting day at the office, my shoulders aching from the weight of my responsibilities.
As I set the bag down by the door, I noticed something odd in the fridge. A neatly typed menu was attached to it with a magnet, and a handwritten note in Tom’s familiar scrawl read, “Cook it today.”I glanced at the menu and felt my blood pressure rise. It listed gourmet dishes, each more complex than the last: Beef Wellington, Coq au Vin, Lobster Thermidor. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I worked longer hours than Tom, and he expected me to come home and prepare these elaborate dishes.
My initial anger reduced to cold determination. I picked up the phone and sent a message to Tom.“What’s this menu in the fridge for? Do you really want me to cook all this?”
Tom’s response was not long in coming. “Yeah, I thought it would be nice to have some structure and variety in our meals. You’re a very good cook and I think you’ll be able to do it. Let me know how it goes.”
I couldn’t believe his nonchalant response. If Tom wanted gourmet meals, he would get them, but not in the way he expected.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. This was too much. I decided to confront him when I got home.
An hour later, Tom came in whistling a tune. “Hello, Sarah,” he called out cheerfully.
“Hi,” I replied, my voice icy. “We need to talk.”
He looked at me, puzzled. “About what?”
I pointed to the fridge. “About this menu.”
Tom looked at him and then back at me, still confused. “What’s wrong with him?”
“You expect me to cook all these meals after working all day?” I asked, raising my voice. “I barely have time to breathe, Tom.”
Others loved Sarah’s solution and even shared their own compromises. Brigitte Hentges wrote : “If my husband wants something special, I suggest we go out to eat.” They also share tasks around the kitchen. Jeannette Harris confessed that she should have thought about hiring a chef “years ago” as she has run out of ideas for different meals.Veris White Likely shared the poignant reason she never faced the same problem with her husband. “My husband would never have made such a request of me, all he asked of me was to be a stay-at-home mom, a wife,” she recalled, “order whatever the kids and I wanted to eat on Friday, do the grocery shopping on Saturday, order takeout, share in the preparation of Sunday dinner…”