I offered to treat the whole family to dinner, planning around a coupon that would save us over a hundred dollars. But my sister-in-law, Nina, refused to wait even 45 minutes, claiming her kids were starving. Though the kids were clearly fine, she pushed everyone to leave early. I agreed but only to teach her a well-timed and perfectly petty lesson.
At the restaurant, Nina ordered the priciest items for herself and her kids, confident I would foot the bill. While she gloated, I slipped away and gave the waiter a simple instruction: bring their food early, ours later. When her meals arrived and we still hadn’t ordered, her confusion turned to horror. I explained: she chose to eat early she could also pay early.
Her face turned red as she opened the bill $98, thanks to her “hunger-fueled” splurge. She demanded I cover it, but I calmly reminded her of the original agreement: dinner at six, on my dime. With no wallet and no allies, she stormed out with the kids in tow. The rest of us stayed, enjoyed our meal (for $74.50), and savored more than just the food.
Two weeks later, Nina still isn’t speaking to me but the silence has been a blessing. I won’t let anyone weaponize children to manipulate others, especially not family. That night taught her boundaries and taught me the value of saying “no” with a smile. The best revenge? Giving entitled people exactly what they demand and letting them choke on it.