Cheapskate Husband Lowers His Wife's Expectations Over the Years Until His Stepson "Embarrassed" Him When He Gifted His Mom Something Special for Her Birthday
She says his penchant for being a bad gift-giver doesn't bother her anymore, but this story says otherwise.
Some husbands are thoughtful gift givers, and some treat every birthday like a budgeting exercise. For one woman, that difference has shaped nearly every celebration in her marriage.
OP says her husband, Jeremy, has spent years giving practical presents while ignoring her love for sentimental ones. Their son, Chris, has always gotten along well with Jeremy, but that changed when OP's birthday came around and Chris decided to do something special for his mom.
Jeremy did not expect his stepson to outshine him, and that is where the real tension began. Read on.
OP's son Chris graduated a year early and plans to go to college next year
He is currently working two jobs despite OP asking him to relax a little and enjoy his teenage years. OP said he will be an adult soon enough anyway, but Chris says he enjoys working.
Chris works at a mechanic shop and a junkyard where most of his friends work as well. Chris got home the other night with his friends following behind him.
He spoke to OP and said, "I know it's not for two more weeks [OP's birthday], but I can't wait for you to open this, so please open it now."
The four teenage boys were snickering with each other, making OP think this was a gag gift. She opened the gift and was pleasantly surprised to see a big and beautiful wall decoration that has picture frames and shelves built into it.
OP's husband saw the gift and immediately asked how much it cost Chris. He also said the money could have gone to a Roth IRA instead.
Chris's ears perked up, and he stared at Jeremy. He then said, "It's truly none of your business what I do with my money, and since you outright refuse to buy my mother nice things that she absolutely deserves, I will make sure she gets something nice."
For the kicker, Chris also revealed the gift didn't cost him anything, as he and his friends made it themselves. Jeremy stopped talking and looked at OP as if waiting for her to defend him.
OP didn't say anything, so Jeremy shook his head and walked away. After Chris and his friends left, Jeremy complained that OP allowed Chris to embarrass him in front of other people and that she should have spoken up when he did.
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OP disagreed and said she thinks Chris was right. Is OP the a**hole for not defending her husband? Read the full post below:
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Jeremy only has himself to blame for being embarrassed, says this redditor
body_by_art
It also echoes the money standoff where a friend demanded everyone chip in for a pricey birthday present, and the OP refused in “Friend Requests Pricey Birthday Gift”.
Chris sounds like an amazing son, and OP should focus on that
marie_moreno
That was a very wholesome part of the story
panda174-
Chris and his friends worked so hard to give his mom a very thoughtful gift
picklepowerPB
They were so adorable, giggling with each other and getting giddy about her reaction
Wynfleue
Even when OP specifically asks for the gifts she wants, Jeremy still manages to drop the ball
Scumbucket22
His frugality is becoming extreme. It has come to a point where he seems to be prioritizing it over anything, even his wife.
Kiruna235
He was embarrassed about the wrong thing
BrownSugarBare
I think I speak for everyone when I say we are all frustrated on behalf of OP
CauliflowerKlutzy189
That phrase only applies when you put actual thought into your gifts
cadmium2093
That's what Jeremy should be worrying about instead of saving face
cadmium2093
If Jeremy doesn't get his act together, he will soon find himself gifting nothing to nobody
Only-Reality-7550
Birthdays only come once a year, and the least Jeremy could have done was take OP to a nice restaurant and spend time with her. Instead, he spent years trying to lower her expectations of him until she doesn't expect anything from him at all.
He only got mad when he saw how happy she was when she received Chris's very thoughtful gift. Her reaction meant his years of lowering her expectations did not work, and no matter what "practical" gift he gives her, OP will not react the same way.
Before Chris’s birthday gift turned into a public embarrassment, see what happened when a mom chose cash over expectations in this “cash instead” conflict.
