Kate cannot wait to spend the holidays with her son and his wife — it’s her first Christmas with the family. But when Liz criticizes her cooking, and John chooses silence over defending his mother, will the holidays be ruined?
I was always the feeder — especially after I got married, it was always me cooking for every family dinner and during the major holidays, like Christmas. But after Oliver, my husband, passed, I lost hold of that part of me.
Now, I barely cook, just enough to keep myself going, and barely that.
Except during the holidays because this is when my son, John, comes for his annual roast dinner. And then, it’s time for me to shine. But this year, things got very heated in the kitchen.
This was the first year with Liz, John’s wife, joining us. When they were dating, she always went home to her parents instead of visiting us. Which, I’ll admit, is fair because being with your family is everything during the holidays. Anyway, I was intrigued to see how Liz would mix with the rest of our family for the day.
Person chopping vegetables | Source: Unsplash
I got up early and began the Christmas meal, knowing that it would be an early dinner with many side dishes and different desserts to follow. I made the usual Christmas dinner that we’ve done for years — chicken, with roasted potatoes and gravy being the main attraction, but with lots of little dishes. Things that John loved.
But Liz? Oh, she definitely wasn’t a fan.
I was putting the final touches on the chicken when Liz strolled into the kitchen, cell phone in hand, eyeing my cooking. She looked around the kitchen with an expression that looked like she had smelt something terrible. I tried to ignore her because I was already sweating away.
Roast chicken on plates | Source: Pexels
Then, she hit me with a line that slammed through me. “Hey, Kate,” she said, “maybe we should order food. Not everyone wants what you’ve cooked. I don’t know if everyone enjoys your cooking, either. Every aspect of Christmas is supposed to be enjoyed by everyone. They should enjoy the food, too!”
I was completely blindsided by her words.
I saw John leaning against the archway, nibbling on a carrot. He altogether avoided my gaze, looking over me and out the window across the room. I held back my tears and bit my lip.
Family get together | Source: Pexels
The guests were almost all present, sitting all over the house, and I didn’t want to put a damper on the dinner, even if Liz had hurt me. Dinner rolled around, and the table groaned beneath the weight of the food. My guests, John included, were digging in and singing praises for the food I had been cooking for most of the day.
“The food’s great, right? Everyone’s enjoying it?” John asked the table.
His uncle laughed and helped himself to another serving of roasted potatoes. “Why wouldn’t we enjoy my sister’s food?” my brother said.
“Because Liz said that the dinner might be ruined by Mom’s dishes. She wanted us to order in.”
“Nonsense!” my brother exclaimed, drowning his potatoes in gravy.
Roasted potatoes | Source: Pexels
John looked at me and smiled. Which was when I realized that my sweet boy’s silence wasn’t meant to hurt me. No. He was trying to bide his time until he could teach Liz a lesson and embarrass her in front of our family.
Liz turned red from his comment as everyone stared at her. I’ll admit that I felt bad for her. It was her first Christmas with us, and already, it wasn’t looking promising.
Later on, when I was in the kitchen again, packing the dishwasher and emptying dishes of food, Liz came in.
“Kate, I’m sorry,” my daughter-in-law said. “I was so wrong to do what I did. I am sorry, please understand.”
“Understand what?” I asked her.
I did feel bad, yes. But I was still hurt.
Loaded dishwasher | Source: Pexels
“I only said that because John loves your food. He always talks about how you make all these special things for him. I can’t make a basic mac and cheese without him saying yours is better. I looked at the food, smelt all the delicious smells from this kitchen, and panicked.”
“Liz, you should know that a boy and his mother’s food is a relationship in and of itself,” I laughed, trying to diffuse the tension. “I can teach you how to cook just like me. My mother taught me everything I know.”
“Really?” she asked. “Even after I’ve been so horrible?”
“Yes,” I said with a softening smile.
Then, I led her to the Christmas tree, ready to give Liz her present.
I still think the whole thing hurts me, but I’m grateful she didn’t say what she said for a nasty reason. Liz felt threatened by John’s relationship with my food instead of fostering a relationship with Liz’s cooking.
But I can teach her.
Christmas present wrapped with red thread | Source: Pexels
If the same thing had happened to you, what would you have done? Would you have been silent until the truth came out, like me? Or would you have retaliated immediately?
Taylor Swift Gets Loudly Booed Off at The Ellen DeGeneres Show After Endorsement Backlash: “Get Outta Here!”
After her contentious support of Kamala Harris, pop icon Taylor Swift was reportedly heckled off The Ellen DeGeneres Show set in an unexpected development that rocked the entertainment industry. The infamously eccentric talk show host and singer of “Shake It Off” were set for a lighthearted discussion that quickly descended into chaos as viewers voiced their disapproval of Swift’s political views.
Swift’s latest entry into the political sphere has drawn criticism and raised suspicions among those who have watched her incredible ascent from rural darling to worldwide musical phenomenon. Swift, who was formerly renowned for holding her political cards close to the vest, has experienced a tremendous reaction following her endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential contest. On the Ellen set, this division was painfully visible as some of her admirers rallied behind the endorsement, while others felt left out.
The taping started off fairly innocently enough, with Taylor smiling broadly as she stepped onto Ellen’s famous white couch and the audience applauding. However, things rapidly changed when Ellen, in typical charming fashion, inquired about the Harris endorsement that had set up a social media controversy.
Ellen teased Swift with a smile, saying, “So, Taylor, let’s talk about that little tweet you posted about Kamala,” anticipating a lively exchange. But as soon as Swift spoke out to justify her decision, the tone in the studio changed from lighthearted to downright antagonistic.
The music sensation tried to defend her choice, but the first jeers came from the crowd before she could say more than “Kamala is my role model.” There were a few whispers at first, but in a matter of seconds, there was a roar of laughter and exclamations, “Get out of here!” that echoed throughout the studio.
Ever the professional, Ellen attempted to diffuse the tension by gesturing to the crowd with her hands. Guys, this is a nice show—come on! She begged, “Let’s listen to her out,” but it was ineffective. The audience wasn’t about to absolve Swift of her responsibilities because they had already made up their minds.
Ellen tried her hardest, but the jeers just got louder, bouncing off the walls and stifling any real conversation. Clearly shaken and taken aback by the animosity, Swift attempted to brush it off with a joke. But her smile turned to an unpleasant frown as the jeers got louder.
Swift said into the microphone, “I didn’t think this would happen,” as she looked across to Ellen, who was hopelessly shrugging while displaying a mix of shame and laughter on her face. This was unlike anything the talk show presenter, who was well-known for her laid-back chats, had ever seen.
With the clamor of criticism building to a crescendo, Swift rose to his feet and nodded pitifully at Ellen. She waved awkwardly at the audience and said, “I think I should go,” before the production crew escorted her off stage.
The increasing backlash from Swift’s political endorsement continues with this incident. In addition to splintering her following base, her outspoken support for Harris has significantly reduced ticket sales for her current Eras Tour.
Many critics contend that Swift made a mistake by entering politics, arguing that she would have been better off sticking to her strengths of creating music and avoiding contentious political matters. A disappointed former admirer said, “I loved her music, but I didn’t sign up for this political drama,” on the former Twitter platform, X. Taylor should refrain from meddling in elections and stick to entertaining.
Some critics were not so courteous. As they were leaving the taping, one audience member was heard to remark, “I used to think she was cool, but now she’s just another out-of-touch celebrity trying to tell us how to vote.” “I didn’t come here to hear Taylor preach politics; I came here to enjoy a fun Ellen show.”
Many observers weren’t blind to the irony of the scenario. Ultimately, The Ellen DeGeneres Show is renowned for being a secure, upbeat venue where visitors come to showcase their most recent endeavors and exchange humorous anecdotes. The fact that Swift was jeered off of an intimate stage like Ellen’s says a lot about the intensity of the criticism she is receiving.
Ellen, who is accustomed to controversy herself, appeared surprised at the ferocity of the audience’s response. A production team member for Ellen later stated that the part will not be aired in its entirety, leading some to speculate that the interview would not even be shown on the show. The source declared, “We’ve never seen anything like this before.” “Normally, Taylor’s fans are really encouraging, but today was really something else. It quickly became ugly.
Swift has not spoken anything on social media since the Ellen incident, leaving many to worry whether or how she will handle the situation. Swift’s staff, on the other side, has quickly distorted the facts, highlighting the value of free speech and her freedom to express her political opinions in a statement. The statement said, “Taylor believes in using her platform to advocate for the causes and leaders she believes in.” “Those who disagree with her or boo her will not silence her.”
Insiders, nevertheless, speculate that the singer may have been more shaken by the incident than her representatives are letting on. One person close to Swift claims that she was “devastated” by the jeers and sobbed as she exited the stage. The source claimed, “She wasn’t anticipating that kind of reaction at all.” “She expected to be able to share her perspective, but the crowd wouldn’t even allow her to speak.”
The backlash that followed Taylor Swift’s support of Kamala Harris serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers that celebrities who enter politics confront. Swift’s experience highlights how turbulent and polarizing the contemporary political atmosphere can be, despite the fact that many celebrities have effectively used their platforms to support causes and candidates.
Swift’s entry into politics has empowered some fans, who see it as evidence that their favorite musician is making positive use of her platform. However, for some, it has been a deal-breaker, making them wonder if they can still support an artist whose opinions they disagree with.
One thing is certain: Swift has a difficult road ahead of her as she struggles with the criticism. It remains to be seen if she can get past the backlash and mend her relationship with her admirers. But for the time being, she probably still hears “Get out of here!” a lot.
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