Our Dad Asked the Whole Family to Buy Mom Kitchen Utensils for Christmas as She’s a ‘Horrible Cook’ — We Decided to Outplay Him
Christmas in our house had always been filled with laughter, warmth, and the occasional prank. But this year, Dad took it too far.
“Let’s all get your mom kitchen utensils,” Dad suggested during our annual family planning call. “She’s such a horrible cook—maybe some new gadgets will help her improve.”
The jab was typical Dad humor, but it didn’t sit right with us—especially since Mom’s cooking, while not Michelin-starred, was filled with love. We exchanged glances on the video call, and that’s when my sister, Jenna, grinned mischievously.
“Let’s outplay him,” she said.
And so, the plan was born.
On Christmas morning, Dad’s face lit up as Mom unwrapped one kitchen-themed gift after another. A set of silicone spatulas from me. A fancy digital meat thermometer from Jenna. Stainless steel measuring cups from my brother, Eric. Each gift was accompanied by exaggerated praise about how they’d surely “fix” Mom’s cooking.
Mom played along beautifully, smiling and thanking everyone while sneaking amused glances our way. Finally, Dad handed her his gift, the pièce de résistance—an expensive, top-of-the-line air fryer.
“Now you’ll have no excuse,” Dad teased, chuckling.
Mom unwrapped it slowly, then gasped. Not because of the air fryer—but because of the note we’d secretly tucked inside:
“Redeemable for one week of home-cooked meals by Dad—using all these fancy new utensils! No takeout allowed. Love, your clever kids. “
Dad’s smile froze. “Wait, what?”
“Oh, come on, honey,” Mom said, barely containing her laughter. “You wanted me to have the best tools. Now you get to show me how they work!”
The room exploded with laughter. Even Dad, after a moment of mock horror, joined in.
To his credit, Dad took the challenge in stride. That week, the kitchen saw more chaos—and love—than ever before. Burnt toast, undercooked pasta, and one spectacular incident involving an overfilled blender became cherished memories.
By New Year’s, Dad admitted defeat. “Okay, okay. Your mom’s cooking might not be perfect, but it’s a heck of a lot better than mine.”
“And made with love,” Mom added, squeezing his hand.
That Christmas, we didn’t just outplay Dad—we reminded him that family, laughter, and a little playful revenge are the best ingredients for any holiday.
