My mother-in-law told me to get up at 4 a.m. to cook Thanksgiving dinner for her 30 guests. My husband added, “This time, remember to make everything really perfect!” I smiled and replied, “Of course.” At 3 a.m., I took my suitcase to the airport. – usnews 0/2

Hudson shrugged.

“So make different versions of those dishes. No big deal.”

No big deal. Three completely different dishes requiring entirely new ingredients and preparation time I didn’t have, on top of everything else I was already attempting to accomplish.

“Hudson, I need help. Real help. Not just carving the turkey. I need you to cook some of these dishes.”

He looked genuinely surprised by the request.

“But you’re so much better at cooking than I am. And Mom specifically requested your green bean casserole and your stuffing. People come expecting your food.”

“Then maybe people can come expecting your food too,” I snapped, my exhaustion finally breaking through my carefully maintained politeness.

The sharpness in my voice seemed to startle him. We’d been married for five years and I’d never used that tone with him before.

“Okay, okay, you’re obviously stressed. Look, I’ll definitely help tomorrow. I promise. But tonight, I’m pretty beat from golf and I’ve got that early meeting I need to be fresh for.”