My Sister-in-Law Mocked My “Terrible” Family Dinner — But Had No Idea Who Really Cooked It…
Looks like something scraped off a cafeteria tray. My sister-in-law spat, grimacing at the dinner table. Even my kids could do better. The room went silent. I took a sip of water and said quietly, “I didn’t cook tonight.” “My name is Skyler Dalton. I’m 32 years old, a mother of two lively boys, Matthew, who’s 5, and Oliver, who’s three.
My husband, Jack, is the same age as I am, and we’ve been together since our college days. Three years ago, we built our own house on a small plot of land right beside Jack’s parents. At first, I loved the idea. Having family close by meant extra support with our boys, and I figured that living next door to his mom and dad would bring us closer together.
For the most part, it worked out well. My father-in-law, Jim, was always ready to help, and my mother-in-law, Nancy, treated me kindly. However, there was one relative I struggled to get along with from day one. Jack’s older sister, Riley. Whenever I speak of Riley, I feel a pang of frustration in my stomach.
She’s a year older than Jack and has been bossing him around since they were kids. I can deal with the typical sibling teasing, but Riley takes it to another level. From the moment she married her husband, Grayson, who happens to be an attorney, she seemed to grow even more arrogant. Grayson is perfectly pleasant on the rare occasions I see him, but Riley’s attitude remains standoffish and smug, as though she married someone of high status, and we should all stand in awe.
I have tried to stay civil, mostly for my in-laws sake, and because Riley has four children, two energetic boys, Jason and Ethan, and two quiet, sweet daughters, Callie and Ava. The trouble with Riley is that every time she comes to visit her parents, she ends up dumping her kids on me. This tradition started when I was still getting used to my new house.
My sister-in-law would stroll into her parents’ home with a big smile, greet everyone, and then get comfortable on the couch. 10 minutes later, either my mother-in-law or Jim would call me on the phone and say, “Skyler, do you think you could come over to help with the kids? Before I knew it, I’d be watching Jason, Ethan, Callie, and Ava in addition to my own two boys.
Now I love children. Always have. I volunteer at our local church’s daycare on weekends, and I’ve babysat for neighbors countless times. But looking after six kids, my two plus Riley’s four, can get downright exhausting. Especially when Riley refuses to pitch in. She’ll sit there scrolling through social media on her phone, glancing up only when one of the children interrupts to show her a drawing or ask for a snack.
And every time the kids approach her, she heaves this bored sigh as if they’re inconveniencing her relaxation time. It’s gotten to the point where even her daughters, who are sweet and well- behaved, hesitate before going near her. I feel sorry for them. For a while, Jack tried to ease my burden. He’d talk to Riley about helping out more, but she’d just roll her eyes and make sarcastic comments like, “Skyler loves kids.
Why would I deprive her of spending time with mine? as if I’m some sort of free nanny on call. My husband would shake his head in annoyance, and I’d clench my teeth, reminding myself that I do adore children. Just maybe not when someone dumps four on me without so much as a please or thank you.
But for the kids’ sake, and out of respect for my in-laws, I forced myself to keep quiet. Time passed, and my boys went from toddlers to elementary schoolers. By the time they were 10 and 8, respectively, Riley’s children had also grown. Callie was in fifth grade, Ava in third, and the boys were off in middle school. One afternoon, my sister-in-law showed up in her parents’ living room, looking more flustered than usual, and announced out of the blue, “I might be getting a divorce. Grayson and I are done.
” Her mother, Nancy, stared at her in shock. My father-in-law, Jim, had passed away the previous year, leaving Nancy alone in that big house, and she relied on Jack and me quite a bit. Riley had never been particularly helpful with chores or errands. But it still surprised us to hear she was considering such a big change.
While my mother-in-law tried to find the right words, Riley charged forward. I plan on moving in here with Callie and Ava next week. Okay. I’ll need the study as our room. We’ll figure out the rest as we go. Jack shot Riley a baffled look. Moving in next week? So soon? Have you even talked to Grayson about custody? Where will Jason and Ethan live? And what about the girls school? My husband’s sister shrugged in that dismissive way of hers.
The boys are with Grayson for now, so they’ll probably stay in their current school. For Callie and Ava, I can just transfer them to the same school as your kids. The two of them are quiet, so they’ll adapt. She waved a hand as if the matter was settled. I couldn’t believe her casual approach to uprooting her children’s lives.
Without pausing, she turned to me. Skyler, while I’m here, it’s going to be your job to handle meals for mom and the girls, okay? Jack’s working full-time. I’m working, too. And the house is so big that I’ll be busy, you know, dealing with everything else. My blood boiled. I was working a part-time job and taking care of my boys, plus frequently stopping by NY’s place to help with cleaning or meals.
Riley apparently wanted to hand over the rest of her responsibilities to me. I have my own job, I said, and my own household to maintain. We’ll all have to pull our weight. My sister-in-law snorted part-time. That’s not a real job. You cook for your family everyday anyway, so just cook extra for mom and girls. Think of it like I’m hiring you.
I can give you $100 a month. How about that? It’s a family arrangement. $100 a month to shop, cook, and clean for three extra people. That wouldn’t even cover the groceries. Riley didn’t see anything wrong with it. She actually believed she was giving me a decent deal. I agreed, mostly because Nancy needed the help and because I couldn’t abandon Cali and Ava.
The two girls had been coming over to my house since they were toddlers. I felt a genuine motherly affection for them. So, my sister-in-law moved into my mother-in-law’s house, occupying the study, turning it into a makeshift bedroom for herself and the girls. From day one, she resumed her old habit of doing nothing.
She’d come home late, drop her bag on the floor, and disappear into the shower while the girls were left quietly in the living room, waiting for dinner or for someone to ask about their day. They rarely got that attention from Riley. Instead, they found me either at my place or cooking in NY’s kitchen, and they’d slip in, offering to help set the table or chop vegetables.
My heart broke when I saw how eager they were to please, yet how rarely they got a thank you from their mom. One evening, Callie and Ava approached me with an idea. Aunt Skyler, can we help you cook dinner tomorrow? We want to surprise mom. Their eyes sparkled with anticipation. Of course, I said yes. The next day, I invited them over after school.
I showed them how to peel potatoes safely, how to hold a knife, how to add spices to make chicken and rice tastes just right. They giggled shyly, but stayed focused, determined to create something special for their mom. We even cut some carrots into heart-shaped to garnish the meal, something fun for the girls.
By dinner time, the food smelled delicious. Nancy sampled a spoonful and whispered to me how excited she was to see her granddaughters taking an interest in cooking. My own boys praised the food’s taste, asking if Callie and Ava could cook more often. I planned to wait for Riley, but after an hour, Nancy said, “Let’s just start eating. She’ll be home when she’s home.
” Sure enough, my sister-in-law strolled in earlier than usual, probably just hungry. She popped her phone on the table, glanced at the dishes, and said, “I’m starving. Bring me a plate. Her daughters beamed, practically jumping up to hand her the meal they’d helped make. Instead of smiling, Riley scowlled.
This looks awful. The vegetables are all different sizes, and what’s with these weird heart shapes? They look gross. Instantly, Callie’s eyes began to glisten. Ava tried to keep a brave face, but her lower lip trembled. I spoke up in a calm, even tone, though I wanted to scream, “The girls made dinner today. They cut everything themselves and tried their best. It tastes great.
Riley pushed the plate away. I can’t eat that. They probably got their dirty hands all over the food. Next time, don’t let them ruin dinner. NY’s face darkened. And I felt Jack bristling beside me. Before I could respond, Callie burst into tears and fled to the bathroom, Ava following behind.
The entire evening was ruined in seconds. Later that night, once we got the kids settled, I confronted Riley in the living room. They worked hard to make you happy. Couldn’t you have at least tried a bite? She snorted. They don’t have to please me. I never asked them to cook. You’re the one who always wants to play Supermom Skyler. You’re treating my daughters like they’re your kids, not mine.
I’ve never tried to replace you, Riley, I said. But they’re here practically every day, and they deserve someone who actually cares about them. She rolled her eyes. Don’t act like you’re doing me a favor. You get a kick out of playing mom to everybody, don’t you? Jack, who had been quietly listening, cut in. That’s enough, Ry.
You’re free to do what you want with your own life. But stop taking it out on Skyler. She’s here supporting your daughters because you won’t. She threw her arms in the air and marched upstairs, shouting how we were ganging up on her. The next day, she packed some things for Callie and Ava and announced, “We’re staying at a friend’s place for a bit. Then she left.
” For a few weeks, the house was quiet. My mother-in-law admitted she was worried about Riley, but also relieved not to have so much tension under her roof. My boys asked where their cousins had gone, and I could only say they were visiting somewhere else for a while. I hated not knowing if Callie and Ava were okay, but since Riley didn’t call, I had no way to find out.
Then about a month later, Riley returned. Only this time, she arrived alone. Her eyes were red, as if she’d been crying. She sat at the kitchen table across from Nancy and me, and let out a deep sigh. The divorce is final, she said flatly. Grayson got custody of all four kids. The boys chose him right away, and the girls, too. None of them want to live with me.
I felt a confusing mix of relief and sadness. As much as I loathed Riley’s neglectful behavior, I knew the kids must be hurting. “I’m sorry,” I said, meaning it. “Did you get to discuss anything with them?” She shrugged again. They told the judge they don’t want to see me. Grayson backed them up, saying, “It’s better they stay with him.
Apparently, he’s moving in with his parents so they can all watch the kids together. I can’t force them to come with me if they don’t want to, right?” Nancy reached out to hold Riley’s hand. Where are you going to live? in this house,” Riley said, her tone implying that the answer should be obvious. Nancy, however, hesitated.
“Honey, you know the house is going to be put on the market soon. It’s old, and I plan to move in with Skylar and Jack. My health’s not what it used to be, and they offered to build an extension for me.” My sister-in-law blinked, mouth falling open in disbelief. Wait, you’re moving in with Skyler and Jack? Since when? We started talking about it after your dad passed, Nancy explained gently.
It’ll be easier for me to have Skyler nearby, and Jack agrees. I can’t manage this place on my own anymore. Riley turned to me, her face twisted with anger. So, what about me? I have nowhere else. I tried to stay calm. Riley, you’ve never liked being here, and you don’t help with the upkeep. Your mother needs constant care.
She’s having more and more bad days. We’ll take care of her, but she can’t keep up this big house alone. You might be able to stay until it sells. But after that, you need to make other plans. She scoffed. Unbelievable. All of you basically kicked me out of my own parents’ home, and I’ve lost my kids, too. Nancy closed her eyes, tears forming.
They’re not lost. You can still see them if they decide they want contact. But you made your choices, Riley. You pushed them away. My sister-in-law stared at us for a moment, then stormed off. She found a small, cheap apartment across town, something short-term, and drifted away from the family. We hardly heard from her except for the occasional text or social media post.
As for Callie and Ava, they settled in with Grayson and his parents. When the girls wanted to visit Nancy, he’d drive them over, and they’d spend afternoons chatting, baking, or sometimes coming next door to see me and my boys. They confided in me how grateful they were to be out of their mother’s house. They both said they felt invisible around her, as though she resented having them around.
Hearing that broke my heart. No child should feel that way. Over time, Nancy sold her old place and officially moved into the extension Jack and I had built. Our household now feels like a wonderful blend. Me, Jack, our two boys, plus Nancy in her own comfortable suite. She has some challenging days, but she appreciates the closeness of family.
My boys love having grandma right there, especially since she regails them with stories of Jack’s childhood. I see how lonely she felt after Jim passed, and I’m glad we could provide a warm, welcoming space for her. Callie and Ava visit every other weekend. At first, they came with Grayson to see Nancy, but soon they started dropping by simply to hang out with me and the boys.
We often cook together, returning to the same kind of fun we had on that unfortunate night. Only this time, there’s no one standing over them, insulting their efforts. We laugh, experiment with recipes, and they’re getting pretty good at cutting vegetables evenly. Ava, in particular, has a knack for seasoning. Callie is learning to bake cookies without burning them.
My boys treat their cousins like sisters, and there’s a genuine sense of closeness. The girls still harbor a lot of hurt toward their mom and they’ve told me they don’t want to see her unless she makes a real effort to apologize and change. I can’t blame them. Grayson respects their wishes, letting them decide how much or how little contact they want.
In the meantime, I do my best to offer them the motherly warmth they crave. As someone who grew up with only brothers, I never had sisters. And sometimes I look at Callie and Ava and feel an overwhelming protectiveness. They’ve been through so much emotional turmoil in such a short time.
I don’t know if Riley will ever fully repair her relationship with her children. For now, she’s on her own. The rumors say she’s bitter about the outcome of the divorce, how she lost custody, the family home, and the kid’s affection. But in truth, it was her actions that led to this point. She alienated everyone around her by refusing to be present or loving.
Always too busy with her own comforts or too quick to judge. I’m genuinely grateful for how things turned out. This quiet life, our home with Nancy nearby, Jack and I raising our boys and weekend visits from Callie and Ava brings me so much joy. My mother-in-law’s health still worries me at times, but she’s better off with us than living alone, and we make sure she knows she’s loved.
Jack is relieved, too, now that Riley’s gone, our daily life feels calmer and more balanced. Sometimes I wonder if Riley has any regrets. Does she miss her daughters? Or is she content with her freedom from responsibility? I’ll probably never know. Her texts to Nancy are rare and short. Found a new apartment, got a job, never a word about Callie or Ava.
Maybe she’s waiting for them to reach out first. Or maybe she’s just too ashamed or stubborn to make the effort. All I can do is be here for my nieces, my husband, and my boys. I won’t push the girls to reconnect with their mom if they’re not ready. Especially if Riley isn’t willing to change. Kids understand more than we think.
They know who truly cares. Callie and Ava know I’m always here to listen, comfort, and support them. If they see me as a second mom, I’ll embrace that with all my heart. Life’s not perfect. We still have our share of chaos, the usual parenting challenges, and NY’s health ups and downs. But the home Jack and I built, rooted in care and love, gives me hope that the girls can heal from the pain their mother caused.
