The happy celebration of Mark’s son’s graduation swiftly descended into anarchy. Tensions arose when Mark invited his parents to attend the lavish family meal that his in-laws had prepared. The evening concluded with an unexpected disagreement and a shocking reaction from his wife, leaving Mark feeling puzzled and disappointed. He came to us for guidance in order to gain clarity.
For my son’s graduation, my in-laws invited twelve family members to a classy restaurant. We were celebrating their grandson, so I invited my parents to join us as well. Because “I brought guests,” my father-in-law wanted me to pay the 18% tip after paying the $1700 portion of the bill. I walked away after refusing. My wife didn’t say much.
I received the most terrible SMS on my phone later that evening. My wife sent it. “Forget about me for a while,” she wrote. For a few hundred dollars, you wrecked our only son’s birthday and made me look foolish in front of my whole family.
Our room was nearly empty when I got home, and I froze. Nearly all of my wife’s belongings had been removed when she moved out. She still doesn’t pick up her phone after three days. Although I understand that she is upset, I thought she would support me rather than point the finger at me. Her father treated my parents like unwelcome guests, which was an insult.
Do you believe I reacted incorrectly?