– Léna, I sent the list. Make sure everything is ready by 1 PM.
I looked at my phone screen. The message was from my mother-in-law around half past eight, just as I had seated the children for their homework and was getting ready to tackle the post-Christmas pile of clothes.
I opened the attached file. An Excel sheet. Fifteen items: jelly, cold platter, three types of salad, main course, appetizers. At the end, a note: “Twelve people. Arriving at six in the afternoon.”
I read it three times. Twelve people. January 13. So, a week from now.
– Mom, can you check my math? – Artem shouted from the kids’ room.
– Right away, honey – I set the phone down and took a deep breath.
Igor was sitting in the living room with his laptop, typing something on the tablet. I walked over and showed him the screen:
– Did you know about this?
He looked indifferent:
– Yeah, mom wanted us to get together. It’s old New Year anyway.
– Igor, twelve people. A week from now, and the food list came to me as if I were a waitress.
– Léna, don’t overreact. Mom just wanted to help, suggest what could be prepared.
– Help? I got instructions!
Igor closed the laptop and rubbed his face with his hands:
– Look, work is chaotic right now. The contractor missed deadlines, the client is threatening a lawsuit. I’m going to the site over the weekend to fix it. Let’s not blow this out of proportion, okay?
– We won’t make an elephant out of it – I shook my head. – But I already sent the reply.
I typed in the family chat: “The kitchen isn’t working today. I suggest meeting at a café. At our expense.”
He opened his eyes wide:
– What are you doing?!
– What I should have done three years ago.
The phone rang thirty seconds later. It was Alla, my sister-in-law.
– Don’t answer – Igor tried to reach for the phone, but I was faster.
– Yes, Mrs. Tamara Petrovna.
– Léna! Have you gone crazy? Café? We’re family, not strangers!
– That’s exactly why I suggest a nice place where no one has to stand in the kitchen all day.
– You don’t recognize me! You’ve always known family is sacred!
– I still do. That’s why I want to spend the holidays together, not in the kitchen.
– Igor! – my mother-in-law raised her voice. – Can you hear what your wife is saying?!
My husband picked up the phone:
– Mom, we’ll call later. We’ll organize it.
He hung up and looked at me as if I had just broken his favorite cup:
– Why like this?
– And what was I supposed to do? Listen and cook for a week?
– Léna, it happens once a year!
– Last year, Sveta, your sister, brought three uninvited guests on New Year’s Eve. At eight in the evening, I was running to the neighbors for ingredients. For three years, I’ve prepared your mother’s birthday.
She publicly declared that my Olivier salad was too salty. Can’t I say “no” even once a year?
– Mom isn’t evil. She’s just used to taking charge.
– Then let it be in her own house.
Igor stood up, carrying the laptop:
– I have to finish the report.
He went to the bedroom and closed the door. I stayed in the living room. The taste was bitter in my mouth. I relived the past three years in my mind that night.
Holidays, gatherings, events. I always cooked. I always set the table. I always cleaned. Tamara Petrovna sat at the head of the table giving orders: “Léna, bring the salt. Léna, where are the napkins? Léna, turn on the kettle.”
And I ran. I smiled. I shook my head.
When the guests left, Igor collapsed on the couch: “I’m completely exhausted, like a dog.” I still washed dishes for two hours and packed the leftovers into containers.
The next morning, my husband left for work without breakfast, closing the door a bit louder than usual. The children went to school, and I sat down with my coffee and opened the phone.
Three new messages in the family chat: Tamara Petrovna: “Igor, talk to your wife. She’s completely lost her mind.”
Alla: “At least can we meet at grandma’s? There’s more space there.”
Oksana, Igor’s cousin: “Girls, I don’t understand. Can someone explain?”
I turned off notifications and started cleaning the house.
The Christmas tree should have been taken down long ago, gifts and toys were everywhere. My hands worked automatically, and one question kept running through my mind: why do I have to explain myself?
That evening, my mother called. She always senses when something is wrong.
– Lénusiu, how are you?
I took a deep breath:
– Fine, Mom.
– Oh, fine – she smiled. – I hear your voice. Tell me.
I explained briefly, without hysteria. My mother paused for a moment:
– You did well. How much more?
– Igor will be mad.
– He won’t. Men always get upset if their “plan” is disturbed. The plan was convenient: mom happy, wife works. Now you have to make your own choice.
– I’m afraid he’ll choose mom.
– He won’t. He’s not stupid. He just needs time.
The next day, Igor came home late. The kids were already asleep. Take off your shoes at the entrance, he went to the kitchen, and quietly took the leftover soup from the fridge.
– Should I heat it? – I asked.
– I’ll manage.
He put the bowl in the microwave and turned it on. He stood behind me. I sat at the table:
– Igor, we need to talk.
– About what? – he didn’t turn to me.
– About what’s happening.
– What’s happening is you made a fuss for nothing.
– For nothing? Twelve people, fifteen dishes, a week of preparation – is that nothing?
He took the bowl and sat across from me:
– Léna, what did they tell me at work today? That I have problems at home because I walk around like a wolf all day. Not enough chaos at work, now there’s war at home too.
– I’m not starting a war. I just don’t want to be “convenient” for everyone.
– Convenient? – he smiled. – Léna, we’re family. Family compromises.
– Compromise is when both sides give. In our case, only I give.
He stood, the bowl untouched:
– We’ll talk when you calm down.
He went to the bedroom. I stayed in the kitchen. The taste was bitter. In the past, I would have gone to make peace, apologize, agree to the holiday preparations.
But now I just sat, staring out the dark window.
On the third day, Alla called. Her voice was tense:
– Léna, we need to meet.
– Why?
– We need to talk. Without Mom. Without Igor. Just the two of us.
I agreed. We met at a café near the subway. Alla came alone, dark circles under her eyes. She ordered a cappuccino, stirring it without looking up:
– I’m sorry for the messages.
I stayed silent.
– Léna, I understand how you feel. I really do.
– Then why did you write what you wrote?
She sighed:
– Because I’m scared. I’m scared of Mom. She’ll start saying I’m a bad child, that I don’t respect the family. And Igor… he’s used to me putting up with everything. And I… – she hesitated.
– Sergyózsa lost her job in December. It’s getting harder for us to get by. I thought at least during the holidays we could eat properly. And I’d feed the kid something other than pasta.
I looked at her, and a tired woman was standing in front of me. Not the daughter-in-law who always asks for something, but someone cornered.
– Why didn’t you tell me? – I asked.
– How could I? Mom would immediately start complaining and giving advice. Igor… he works, has money. He wouldn’t understand.
– Alla, I know someone. They’re hiring a project manager at a construction company. I can connect you.
She looked at me:
– Really?
– Yes. But that doesn’t mean I’ll serve as a free caterer for everyone.
– I know, – she nodded. – Mom is used to taking charge. And she exhausts me too.
– Then support me.
– How?
– I want everyone to gather. Without Mom. We’ll discuss how to celebrate. On equal terms.
Alla paused for a moment, then slowly nodded:
– Let’s try.
I called Oksana, then Alla’s husband, and finally Igor. We scheduled a meeting for the next evening at our house. Igor didn’t answer for a long time. Finally, he said dryly:
– Why?
– Come and you’ll see.
Seven o’clock. He arrived. Alla, her husband, and their child were already in the kitchen. Oksana was half an hour late. Igor took off his coat, looking surprised:
– What’s happening?
– Sit down. I’ll explain everything.
When Oksana arrived, I spoke calmly, without raising my voice:
– I’m ready to host everyone on the 13th. But with new rules. Each family brings two dishes. We set the table together, clean before and after. Children under adult supervision, not just me. If anyone disagrees – speak now.
Igor crossed his arms:
– Léna, Mom won’t forgive this.
– Let her be angry. I won’t allow it anymore.
– That’s selfish – he said.
– No, – Alla interjected. – It’s fair. I like Léna’s proposal. I’m tired of Mom taking charge of everything.
Igor turned to his sister:
– Are you serious?
– Completely. Sergyózsa, agree? – she looked at her husband.
He nodded:
– Sure. I’m tired of behaving like a parasite.
Oksana shrugged:
– It’s not a problem for me. The point is to gather. Everyone brings something; it’s fairer.
Igor was silent. I saw him struggle with himself. Finally, he sighed:
– Fine. But I’ll tell Mom.
He didn’t. Tamara Petrovna found out from Alla. The next day, January 10, she came alone.
I opened the door. Two huge shopping bags at the threshold:
– Since you don’t want to cook, I will.
She stepped past me, placed the bags on the floor, and took off her coat:
– Where’s your apron?
– Tamara Petrovna…
– No, not Tamara Petrovna! I don’t understand what’s happened to you. You used to be normal, and now…
Vika popped out of the kids’ room:
– Grandma, can we play…
– No! I’m cooking, don’t bother me! – my mother-in-law waved.
I took Vika by the hand:
– Go to your sibling, sweetie.
Tamara Petrovna went into the kitchen and started organizing the ingredients. I stood at the door:
– Tamara Petrovna, I didn’t ask you to cook in my house.
– And what could I do? Just watch how everything is left for me in the kitchen? – she said, eyes stern. – I know how to do everything right.
– Tamara Petrovna – I stepped closer, quietly but firmly –, this house isn’t about your orders. If you want to come, to talk, you can bring a dish, but you won’t control everything.
She paused. For a moment, her face softened, then she sighed.
– Hm… then… I’ll bring the salad we always liked – she finally said, her voice gentler.
Igor was sitting on the couch, arms crossed over his chest, watching the scene. Some recognition in his eyes, but still his usual skepticism: “Will this really work?”
– Okay – I said –, everyone else will bring something too, and we’ll set the table together. Collectively. Not alone.
Alla held her child and nodded:
– Right. Finally fair.
Vika looked at us and smiled:
– Can I help too?
– Of course, sweetie – I said –, everyone helps.
Tamara Petrovna shrugged slowly and began placing her dishes on the kitchen counter. Igor stood up and took my hand:
– You know I’m proud of you?
– Well… it wasn’t easy – I smiled.
– But finally we all learned something. Me too – he said, shaking his head. – And you.
That evening, for the first time, our house was filled not with chaos, but with a sense of order and equality. Everyone worked in the kitchen, but no one gave orders. Everyone contributed.
And for the first time, I felt that a family holiday could truly be shared – not just bound by traditions and expectations.
The phone remained silent, and the kitchen was filled with laughter, children, and smells that no one tried to “perfect.” Finally, I smiled, not just worked.
The holiday had begun – by our own rules, in our own way.
