Last week, my father-in-law showed my husband that being a parent means putting your family first—even when you’re exhausted.
John and I were preparing for a trip to visit his parents with our two-year-old son, Ethan. John had been stressed from work and kept talking about how much he needed a break. “I just need some peace and quiet,” he said as we packed. I understood his stress, but I was too busy making sure Ethan had everything he needed for the flight.
At the airport, I struggled with our luggage and a fussy toddler while John disappeared for a while. When he returned, he seemed oddly relaxed. “Where were you?” I asked. “Just sorting something out,” he replied with a smirk.
Then came the shock—when we boarded, John handed me our economy tickets while he held a business class pass. “I can’t deal with you and the kid right now,” he said casually. My heart sank. For the entire flight, I juggled Ethan’s tantrums while imagining John sipping champagne in comfort.
When we arrived, my frustration was boiling over. His father, Jacob, noticed something was off. “How was your flight, John?” he asked. John grinned. “Amazing! Business class is worth every penny.” Jacob’s expression darkened.
The next day, as we got ready for a family dinner, Jacob pulled John aside. “You’re staying home to prepare the house for guests,” he said firmly. John protested, but his father didn’t back down. “Tonight, you’ll learn how it feels to be left behind.”
The rest of the trip was a wake-up call for John. His father assigned him endless chores—cleaning, painting, even mowing the lawn. By the end of the week, John was exhausted. “I’m sorry,” he finally admitted. “I took you for granted.”
But Jacob had one last surprise. On our return flight, John’s business ticket was canceled—he flew economy while Ethan and I enjoyed business class. It was the perfect lesson in empathy.
