My Busy Dad Never Spends Time with Us and Treats Mom Iike a Servant — My Brother & I Taught Him a Lesson
In our home, our workaholic dad ruled while Mom served, and my brother Josh and I were barely noticed. Fed up, we devised a bold plan to open Dad’s eyes. I’m Irene, and this is how we changed everything.
One evening, Dad came home, ignored us, and demanded dinner. Mom, juggling work and chores, rushed to comply while Dad played video games. Josh and I exchanged frustrated glances—this was our normal, and it hurt.
The next night, Dad criticized Mom’s cleaning, ignoring her exhaustion. Furious, I confided in Josh. We decided to mimic Dad’s behavior to show him its impact. We convinced Mom for a spa day, then dressed in Dad’s shirts and ties. When he arrived, I demanded dinner, and Josh dismissed him, mimicking his apathy.
Confused, Dad soon realized we were mirroring him. “Is this how you see me?” he asked, shaken. We explained how his neglect hurt us and overburdened Mom. When Mom returned, Dad, tearful, apologized and cooked dinner—a first. He engaged with us, asking about school, even offering to help me study.
As we cleaned up together, I felt hopeful. It wasn’t perfect, but for the first time in years, we felt like a family again.
