Cooking for Everyone
“I’m not planning a grand celebration for my birthday, so I’m only inviting a small number of guests,” Mary told her son and daughter-in-law over dinner.
“How many is a small number?” asked Jacob, who knew his mother’s love for lavish parties.
“Twenty-three confirmed guests and a couple more are maybe,” the elderly woman replied calmly.
“Hold on,” Susan pieced it together. “You’ve invited everyone already, haven’t you? You’re just letting us know now?”
“Well, I’m turning seventy, this is my house, and I think I have the right to invite who I like,” Mary countered. “It’ll only be children, grandchildren, and close family. I haven’t even invited neighbors or distant relatives.”
“Why all the fuss and expense, though?” Jacob didn’t understand. “Our house isn’t big enough for so many, and now we’ll have to buy food, clean, and organize everything.”
“Funny how living in my house doesn’t bother you, but throwing a party for your mother, you count every penny,” Mary began her performance. “This could be my last big birthday, and I have the right to make my own decisions.”
“But you know Mum can’t manage the preparations alone?” Jacob pointed out later. “My older sister Katie hasn’t spoken to Mum for ages, so she probably won’t turn up. My younger sister Emma lives in another city and definitely won’t come to help, so it’s all on us.”
“Great, so I become the housemaid for a week,” Susan fumed.
“We don’t have a choice; we want to honor Mum, and we do live in her house,” Jacob reminded her.
Susan didn’t want to do anything, but the fact that they lived with her mother-in-law decided it. She knew that otherwise, Mary would make life difficult and stress their nerves. Two weeks before the party, Susan did a deep clean of the house, ensuring everything sparkled, planning just to freshen things up right before the event.
“I don’t like the menu you suggested,” Mary said, looking at her daughter-in-law’s list. “There aren’t enough meat dishes, and your fancy sandwiches aren’t necessary. We can’t have guests leaving hungry.”
“But there’s a lot of food already. It’s calorie-heavy and will take a lot of money and time to prepare,” Susan defended herself.
“Fine, I’ll add something else, and then we’ll decide,” Mary frowned.
After her additions, the list of dishes and costs increased by half. Mary planned to pay for some of the banquet herself but expected support from her son and daughter-in-law for the rest.
“First of all, we’re one family, and that’s normal,” she declared. “Secondly, I haven’t made any decisions about the house. If I leave it to you, you’ll still profit, so you might want to put in some effort.”
Susan tried to hold back and not upset her husband. He placidly fulfilled his mother’s whims. She didn’t want to buy everything at one supermarket, finding it uneconomical.
“But we’ll waste petrol, time, and energy getting butter from one shop, cream from the market, and eggs out of town,” Susan didn’t understand.
“It’s no problem,” insisted her mother-in-law. “I want to be sure of the product quality, so we must buy where I always do.”
Mary didn’t really have the health or strength to help with the cooking but insisted on supervising the shopping and demanded that her son drive her around. Jacob had to ferry his mother around after work, listening to her lectures.
“Do you have a reliable baker for the cake order?” Mary inquired of her daughter-in-law.
“I thought we’d just buy a ready-made cake or some pastries,” Susan was taken aback.
“Right, why not just buy a loaf in honor of my birthday,” Mary dramatically feigned offense. “I bet you wouldn’t act this way with your own mother.”
“My mother’s milestone was last year, and she didn’t celebrate at all,” Susan blurted. “We just sat down for a family dinner with my parents and brother’s family.”
“That’s your personal business, every family has its own rules,” Mary persisted. “You’re part of ours now, so please follow our rules.”
Susan genuinely tried to placate her mother-in-law. During her lunch break at work, she browsed for cakes and recipes, and after work, she was constantly popping into shops since there was always something needed. With the guests invited for Saturday, she took days off from work starting Thursday to prepare everything on time.
“It seems you have no shame,” Mary fumed again. “Fine, Jacob’s a man and doesn’t get it, but you could’ve offered more help.”
“What now?” Susan tried to understand her mother-in-law’s dissatisfaction.
“My party, guests arriving, and I should greet them in a bathrobe with my hair in a bun?”
Susan had to traipse with her mother-in-law around stores to help her choose an outfit. She arranged with a friend to come by and do Mary’s hair and makeup for the occasion.
“Why are you baking meat rolls today?” Mary burst into the kitchen. “The party is the day after tomorrow, and they’ll be stale.”
“Because tomorrow’s schedule is packed, and I physically can’t cook all at once,” Susan reminded her. “The stove and oven will be occupied, and I have only two hands.”
“Then get up earlier; no need to act like a martyr,” pressured Mary.
“You want everything done with my hands,” Susan couldn’t stay silent any longer. “If you aren’t pleased, I won’t do anything.”
“What do you mean?” Mary yelled, red with anger.
“Take your guests to a café or order delivery,” Susan lost control. “I’m done with complaints and blame.”
Returning from work, Jacob found his wife in tears and his mother fuming. Mary was taking heart medication, accusing her daughter-in-law of trying to ruin her party.
“Honey, please, let’s just get through this,” Jacob pleaded. “It’s only a couple more days, and it’ll be over.”
For Jacob’s sake, Susan set her pride aside, rested a bit, and returned to the kitchen. She spent all Friday there, exhausted. By Saturday, with the guests’ arrival, everything was ready, and the house sparkled with cleanliness. Dressed up, Mary received congratulations from guests and invited everyone to the table.
“Everything’s made with love and a good mood,” Mary sweetly smiled at the relatives.
“As always, everything’s tasty, beautiful, and original,” the guests complimented.
“I worked hard, though some people tried to make it difficult,” Mary responded, casting a glance at no one in particular, then around at her daughters and daughter-in-law.
Throughout the banquet, Susan hardly sat down, always busy with plates. Jacob’s nerves finally snapped, and he made his sisters help his wife.
“I can’t understand if you’re a heroine or just that foolish,” Jacob’s sister Katie remarked in the kitchen.
“What do you mean?” Susan didn’t understand.
“It’s clear Mum’s taking advantage of you, and this whole banquet’s on your effort and dime,” Katie replied.
“Don’t salt the wound,” pleaded the other sister, Emma. “You know our mum well and why we keep our distance.”
“It’s a significant birthday, respect, living together, and all,” Susan felt torn.
“She’s our mum; we came fearing this might truly be her last,” Emma continued. “But let’s be real, she’s difficult, living with her is unbearable, and if you think she’ll leave you the house, unlikely. She’s holding you close to control you; we’ve been there.”
The guests lingered late, giving speeches and clearing almost everything off the table, even taking pastries home. After the last guest left, the birthday lady strode off to rest, not even thanking her son and daughter-in-law. Susan washed dishes till morning before finally resting.
She couldn’t sleep long though, as at ten, Mary burst into the room with a proposal to shop as she wished to spend the gift money.
“I can’t do this anymore, you understand?” Susan asked Jacob after she’d left. “I’m not going, and I don’t care what she thinks.”
Jacob didn’t go either, leading to more of Mary’s tantrums and complaints about how they didn’t appreciate her. Two months later, Susan convinced Jacob to move to a rented apartment, away from Mary. Mary didn’t understand the move and continued to bad-mouth Susan, accusing her of ruining her son’s life and not respecting her. Mary considered herself the ideal mother with ungrateful children.
