When Mia’s husband, Ben, suddenly starts talking about homeschooling their six-year-old daughter, Lily, she’s surprised. Months earlier, they had been talking about sending the little girl to private school. So, what changed? Mia finds out when she overhears a conversation between Ben and Lily…
This all started a few months ago at a dinner party. My husband, Ben, and I were sitting with a few friends when, out of the blue, he brought up the idea of homeschooling our daughter, Lily.
An aerial view of people at a dinner party | Source: Midjourney
“It’s the system, you know? It’s too rigid, too focused on tests,” Ben said, leaning forward in his seat like he had discovered the secret to the universe.
“Kids need to be free to explore their creativity. I don’t want Lily’s imagination boxed in. She needs to feel things between her fingers and experience life,” he continued.
Ben reached forward to help himself to the bowl of mashed potatoes.
A casserole of mashed potatoes | Source: Midjourney
Everyone at the table nodded, murmuring in agreement.
“Honestly, that’s so true,” our friend Sarah chimed in as she sipped her wine. “Schools just kill creativity. I wish I had done something different with my kids. Last year, Jasmine wanted to show off her creativity through her uniform, but they didn’t accept it at school. She got a suspension warning.”
I remember glancing at Ben, completely surprised at how passionately he was speaking. He had never once mentioned anything about homeschooling before. In fact, he had been talking about us getting our six-year-old into private school.
A little girl in her school uniform | Source: Midjourney
But here he was, talking about homeschooling like he’d been thinking about it for years.
“We could teach her ourselves, Mia,” Ben continued, glancing over at me with a smile. “Think about it, love. No strict schedules, no standardized tests. She could learn at her own pace.”
I nodded, trying to process everything.
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
“Yeah, I mean, it does sound good,” I agreed. “But we need to explore all options about it first.”
I was hesitant. But I was also unsure of why I felt a slight unease creep up on me. Although when Ben spoke so passionately, it was hard not to get swept up in the dream of it all.
After that night, Ben kept bringing it up. At home, over dinner, in passing conversations, he’d make little comments all the time.
A concerned woman | Source: Midjourney
“Lily would be so much happier if she wasn’t stuck in a classroom all day.”
“We could help her learn things that matter, Mia, not just what’s on some test.”
Eventually, I started to believe that he might be right.
Before I knew it, we had decided to pull Lily out of her school and start with the new routine of homeschooling. Ben took charge of everything.
A little girl using a computer | Source: Midjourney
“Like the gifts we talked about? You’ll deliver them, right?”
He had always been more involved with her school meetings, so I trusted him completely. And look, at first, everything seemed to be working. Ben would sit with Lily during “school hours,” and he’d proudly show me the projects they’d worked on when I got home from work.
“I’m glad she’s happy,” I told Ben one evening when I was loading the dishwasher.
A woman loading a dishwasher | Source: Midjourney
“She’s more than happy, Mia,” he said with a smile. “She’s thriving. Look at this! She made a solar system model all on her own.”
But then one day, I came home early from work, eager to show Lily the new set of watercolor paint I had gotten for her. I walked in quietly, not wanting to disturb whatever lesson she and Ben were doing.
And that’s when I heard Lily crying.
A concerned woman | Source: Midjourney
“But Dad, I miss my friends!” Lily sobbed. “They probably think I don’t like them anymore. I’m sure they think we’re fighting! They’ll be so mad at me for not going to school…”
I crept closer to the dining room, which had become the classroom. And I heard Ben’s voice, low and soothing.
“Lily-girl,” he said. “I told you, we can send them little gifts, okay? They won’t be mad at you.”
An upset little man | Source: Midjourney
Lily sniffled, but her tone lifted a little.
“Like the gifts we talked about? You’ll deliver them, right?” she said.
Deliver gifts? What on earth was my child talking about?
“Yes, darling,” he said.
A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney
“Like when you let me come with you when Mommy had to work? You’re going to deliver my friends’ gifts just like when you bring packages to people, right?”
I froze. I tried to piece the information together before storming in and demanding answers.
Ben wasn’t homeschooling Lily out of some grand educational philosophy that he had been talking about endlessly.
An upset little girl | Source: Midjourney
Instead, my husband was delivering packages. All those days that I thought they were doing lessons… what had really been happening under my roof?
“Get your answers, Mia,” I muttered as I walked into the dining room.
Ben’s face turned white when he saw me.
A close up of a shocked man | Source: Midjourney
“Care to explain what on earth Lily is talking about?” I asked.
My chest felt tight, like I was just holding it all together before some horrible news came out.
Ben let out a long breath, running his hands through his hair.
“Honey, why don’t you go play on the swing or watch some TV?” Ben told her.
We waited until Lily was happily running outside to the swing before Ben said another word.
A little girl sitting on a swing | Source: Midjourney
“I… I lost my job, okay? Months ago. I didn’t know how to tell you, Mia.”
I blinked, trying to process his words.
“I didn’t want you to think I was a failure.”
“You lost your job? Then what on earth have you been doing all day?”
“The homeschooling. It wasn’t about Lily’s education. It was because we couldn’t afford the tuition anymore. And I know that a few months ago I wanted her to go to private school, but I couldn’t even afford her public school fees.”
A close up of an upset man | Source: Midjourney
Ben paused, holding his head.
I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to retaliate.
“I’ve been delivering packages. It’s not stable, but it’s for a few hours a day. I take Lily with me in between her homeschooling. I know you think that I’ve been working in the study and then teaching Lily, too…”
A man holding two boxes | Source: Midjourney
“You’ve been delivering packages? Really? This whole time?” I asked, stunned. “Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to think that I was a failure,” Ben said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t know how to fix this situation. But you know how stressful my job was toward the end. Those hours killed me. I thought that maybe if I could just keep things together for a little while longer…”
A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney
I shook my head, trying to wrap my mind around everything. I wanted to be angry.
I wanted to shout at my husband, not because he lost his job, but because he didn’t want to tell me about it. I understood the pressure of losing your job suddenly and then having to put yourself back together.
When I was pregnant with Lily, I lost my job because they couldn’t afford to keep paying me while I was on maternity leave.
A pregnant woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
But Ben carried us right up until Lily was three years old.
I shook my head now, trying to shake some of my thoughts. I felt… sad. Sad that Ben had felt like he had to hide this from me.
“Ben, you didn’t have to do this alone,” I said, reaching toward him.
He smiled at me sadly.
A close up of a woman | Source: Midjourney
We put Lily back into school the next week using our savings. She was overjoyed to see her friends, and the guilt Ben had been carrying around began to lift when he saw her running toward them at the school gate.
As for Ben, he found another job as a grocery store manager. It wasn’t his dream job, but it was honest work that came with medical benefits. And honestly, I think it was just the fact that he was earning properly again that made the biggest difference to him.
A man standing in a grocery store | Source: Midjourney
There was a lightness back in our home that hadn’t been there in a long time. A sense that we were moving forward, together.
What would you have done?
A smiling couple with their daughter | Source: Midjourney
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |
Am I Wrong for “Hiding” My MIL’s Birthday Present to My Husband after Finding Out What Was Inside?
Tired of allowing her cold and callous mother-in-law to ruin her husband’s birthday, Lila hides Carol’s birthday present from Bill to save him the hurt and disappointment that usually came with his mother’s gifts. But when Lila’s secret comes out, a series of events unfolds.
I could tell my husband, Bill, was nervous. His birthday was coming up, and every year, his mom’s gift felt like a slap in the face.
Bill sat on our worn-out couch, his shoulders tense.
A man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
“Do you think she’ll actually care this time?” he asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
I sighed, placing my hand on his. I didn’t know what I was supposed to say. I knew that I needed to reassure him, but my husband’s relationship with his mother was complicated.
“Maybe,” I said. “But remember, we’re celebrating your birthday, not hers. We’ll have a great time, no matter what, darling.”
A couple holding hands | Source: Midjourney
Bill smiled at me, but it didn’t reach his eyes. I knew how much he wanted to feel loved and appreciated by Carol, but she always failed to show him that. It wasn’t just about the gifts. It was about the feeling.
Bill had told me the story a long time ago. He was his mother’s son from her first marriage, and their relationship was strong, but things took a turn when Carol met her second husband, Adam.
It became even worse when Bill’s younger brothers were born. Suddenly, Carol only had eyes for Adam and their sons, making it clear to Bill that he was no longer a priority in her life.
A mother and her sons | Source: Midjourney
“Okay,” he said. “This year will be different.”
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
10 Unbelievably Greedy Wedding Demands That Push All Limits
We’re gathered here today to celebrate… outrageous wedding demands! From pay-per-slice cake to gift lists that rival Christmas, you’ll be grateful your invite got ‘lost.’ Get ready to laugh (and cry) as we dive into 10 weddings where the vows come with a price tag!
Weddings: a time of love, joy, and… complete insanity? You bet! We’ve rounded up 10 tales of nuptial nonsense that’ll make you laugh, cringe, and maybe reconsider that destination wedding. From cash-grabbing cousins to hair-raising drama, these stories prove that some folks take “bridezilla” to a whole new level. So sit back, grab some popcorn, and prepare to witness the train wrecks of matrimonial madness!
A surprised bride | Source: Midjourney
1. Vegas, Baby! And Don’t Forget to Bring a Gift You’ll Never See in Action
My cousin Susy’s wedding was a masterclass in audacity. First, she sent out save-the-dates. Then… crickets. Getting antsy, I messaged her about invites.
“Oh, we’re just doing a small Vegas thing now. Money’s tight,” she chirped.
Fair enough, right? Wrong.
Wedding décor | Source: Unsplash
A week later, everyone who didn’t make the cut got a lovely little notice. “We’re off to Vegas! Here’s our registry — gifts only, please!”
The kicker? This chick was my maid of honor, and I’d covered all her expenses.
Did she get me a gift? Nope. Now she wanted me to shell out $500 for a mixer I couldn’t even use to drown my sorrows at her reception. Hard pass, cuz. Vegas, baby… without your overpriced kitchen gadgets!
‘Just Married’ sign on vintage car | Source: Pexels
2. When Your Maid of Honor’s Dress Costs More Than Your Wedding… Oops!
My wedding was a shoestring affair. We’re talking $80 dress, $30 for my maid of honor’s gown. But my dear friend decided her frock needed some TLC.
“Sure,” I said, picturing a nip here, a tuck there.
Turns out, she went full Project Runway, racking up $100 in alterations! Her dress now cost more than my entire bridal ensemble. But wait, there’s more! Shoe shopping rolled around.
Wedding accessories on a table | Source: Pexels
“I’ll spot you,” I offered when she came up short. She picked some pricey kicks, but hey, her dime, right? Wrong again.
When I asked for repayment, she hit me with, “Oh, I thought you were treating! I’d have chosen cheaper ones if I knew!”
My bank account wept silently as I realized generosity and wedding planning don’t always mix.
An upset bride | Source: Midjourney
3. The Wedding Where Half the Guests Got Sheet Cake and the Other Half Got… Everything Else!
Imagine throwing a wedding with a VIP section. That’s exactly what my “friends” did.
They cooked up a two-tier guest system that’d make a nightclub bouncer blush.
Tier 1? The chosen few. Fancy wristbands, full banquet access, and an open bar. Living large!
Tier 2? The unwashed masses. We got to watch the ceremony, then twiddle our thumbs until the reception’s leftovers. Cash bar only, peasants!
Wedding menu on a table | Source: Unsplash
Oh, and don’t forget the cake — fancy fondant for the elites, grocery store sheet cake for the rest of us.
The pièce de résistance? A “sponsor our honeymoon” donation box, because nothing says “We value your presence” like begging for vacation cash after treating half your guests like second-class citizens.
Layered strawberry sheet cake slices on two plates | Source: Unsplash
4. Cash-Only Wedding: Because Who Needs Love When You’ve Got Venmo?
Picture this: a couple so hellbent on a fairytale church wedding that they turned into medieval tax collectors. Instead of a registry, they demanded COLD, HARD CASH. Yep!
And we’re not talking “slip a $20 in a card” money. These folks wanted enough to make your accountant sweat.
A bride and groom holding a balloon | Source: Unsplash
Unsurprisingly, the guest list started shrinking faster than a wool sweater in hot water.
But here’s the real kicker! All that dough couldn’t buy them happiness. They didn’t even make it to their first anniversary.
Turns out, you can’t build a lasting marriage on a foundation of tulle and empty wallets. Who knew?
A bride and groom holding hands | Source: Unsplash
5. No Pics, Please! How My MIL Tried to Censor Our Wedding for Family Privacy
My MIL Daisy had some… interesting requests for our wedding.
Picture this: we’re at my final dress fitting, and she drops this gem: “Don’t post any pictures on social media. I don’t want my family to see.”
Um, what? We’d already downsized from a big shindig to a woodsy elopement (with a promise of a church do-over later). Now she’s trying to censor our memories?
A demanding older woman pointing a finger | Source: Midjourney
I bit my tongue so hard I nearly needed stitches. Finally, I mustered up my best “bless your heart” voice and said, “Daisy, darling, this is our day. Those pictures are going up faster than you can say ‘I object.’”
My fiancé backed me up, and Daisy miraculously found her chill. The wedding was perfect, and you bet your bottom dollar those pics hit Facebook before the cake was cut!
A happy bride smiling at her groom | Source: Midjourney
6. Bad Hair Day Turns into a Soap Opera Slapfest at My Sister’s Wedding
Meet Linda, my half-sister and wannabe hair dictator. For her wedding, she demanded all bridesmaids sport identical ‘dos.
Never mind that we had a veritable sampler platter of hair types and lengths. Oh, and did I mention the crack-of-dawn appointment at some ritzy, far-flung salon?
Mom, bless her, booked me at a nearby budget place instead. Cue the rehearsal dinner drama. Linda and Mom went at it like two cats in a sack. Next thing I know, I’m booted from the bridal party faster than you can say “bad perm.”
But wait, there’s more!
An extremely furious bride | Source: Midjourney
Linda’s mom decided to play bouncer, trying to kick Mom and me out of dinner. When Mom stood her ground, SLAP! Yep, Linda’s mom went full soap opera on my mother’s face.
Needless to say, Dad and Bro bailed on the big day, along with most of our side. All this over some up-dos. Talk about a bad hair day!
A startled senior woman looking at another lady | Source: Midjourney
7. Destination Wedding Disaster: When the Hotel Bill Costs More Than the Wedding Itself
Buckle up, folks, ’cause Roger and I are on a wild ride to Wedding Wonderland. Our pals can’t seem to nail down a single detail, but boy, do they have demands!
First, it was a tropical getaway. “We don’t want to exclude anyone,” they said while planning a bash more remote than a desert island. “Oops, military duty calls!” Scratch that. Now we’re headed interstate, but don’t worry, it’ll still cost an arm and a leg!
A cheerful newlywed couple | Source: Unsplash
They insist we all bunk at the same hotel. Slight problem: 100 guests, 10 rooms, and a nightly rate that’d make a rockstar blush. Roger and I are about ready to elope ourselves just to escape this circus. At this rate, we’ll be living on ramen for a year just to afford their “special day.”
Here’s hoping their next bright idea doesn’t involve us selling a kidney!
A shocked woman holding her face | Source: Midjourney
8. Ahoy, Guests! Please Help Us Buy Our Dream Boat Instead of Toasting the Bride & Groom
Let me introduce you to my buddy’s cousin Jeremy and his blushing bride. These two lovebirds had a dream — a dream of cruising the high seas in style.
So naturally, they decided their wedding was the perfect opportunity to crowdfund their nautical ambitions. Forget toasters and towels, these modern-day pirates wanted cold, hard cash to buy a boat.
Aerial view of boat at sea | Source: Unsplash
But not just any old dinghy would do. Oh no, they had their hearts set on a brand-spanking-new Mastercraft. Because nothing says “till death do us part” like asking your guests to shell out for a luxury watercraft.
I hear the S.S. Entitlement is lovely this time of year!
Grayscale of a bride and groom walking together | Source: Unsplash
9. $1,000 Entry Fee to Goldilocks’ Wedding… Because Love Ain’t Cheap!
Imagine my surprise when I opened a wedding invite that came with a price tag.
My acquaintance, let’s call her “Goldilocks,” had a very specific vision for her big day. And by vision, I mean a minimum cash gift of $1,000 per guest.
Anything less, she declared, “wouldn’t make a difference.” Oh, but it gets better.
Close-up shot of a smiling bride | Source: Unsplash
We were instructed to label our gifts AND envelopes, lest our generous contributions go unnoticed. Heaven forbid she thank the wrong person for bankrolling her extravaganza!
I’m still trying to decide which is more breathtaking: her audacity or her math skills. Maybe I’ll send her a lovely “thank you” card for teaching me the true meaning of “gold digger!”
A ‘thank you’ card | Source: Pexels
10. Welcome to the Wedding with Admission Fees — Get Ready to Pay for Every Slice of Cake
Hold onto your hats, folks, because this one takes the wedding cake.
Picture this: you receive a save-the-date that looks suspiciously like an itemized bill. That’s right, these creative lovebirds decided to charge admission to their “destination” nuptials.
Close-up of a bride and groom holding hands | Source: Unsplash
As if jet-setting to Nowheresville wasn’t pricey enough, we now had the privilege of paying for every morsel and moment of their big day. But wait, there’s more!
Turns out, the father of the bride was the maestro behind this matrimonial money grab. Shockingly, the wedding was a disaster. Who could’ve seen that coming? I hear they’re planning a vow renewal. P.S. I’ll be busy washing my hair that decade.
A distressed bride | Source: Midjourney
There you have it, folks, ten tales of wedding day wackiness that’ll make you appreciate eloping. Got your own story of nuptial nonsense? Drop it in the comments!
Grayscale wedding décor | Source: Unsplash
Liked this compilation of hilarious wedding disasters? Then you might like this one about the most unexpected plot twists that will have you laughing out loud.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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