My wife and I created a fake holiday to get out of family events.
By @coleok · Family
We invented 'Great Aunt Silda's Memorial Potluck' and it's worked for years. Now both sides of our family think it's a real thing the other side does, and they want to be invited.
The full story
A few years back, my wife and I were getting slammed with invitations. Her family, my family, everyone had something going on every single weekend. We were burnt out. So one weekend we just wanted to chill, and we told her family we had to go to my family's 'Annual Great Aunt Silda's Memorial Potluck.' I just made it up on the spot. Sounded real enough, right? A week later, my family invited us to something, so we told them we had my wife's family's 'Annual Great Aunt Silda's Memorial Potluck.' We've been using this excuse for about four years now. It's been our perfect get-out-of-jail-free card. The problem is, we got sloppy. I think my wife mentioned to her sister we were bringing our famous chili, and I told my brother we were in charge of the potato salad this year. The details started to build up. Last week, my mom called me and said, 'You know, we've never been to this potluck for Silda. It sounds lovely. We should come support your wife's family.' An hour later, my wife's dad texts her saying he feels bad for not knowing my side of the family better and wants to pay his respects to my Great Aunt Silda and would love to come to the next potluck. Now they're both trying to coordinate a date to attend the memorial potluck that doesn't exist. We have no idea what to do. Do we come clean and admit we're liars who just wanted to stay home and watch TV? Or do we host a fake memorial potluck for a fake dead aunt? I'm leaning towards the potluck. Seems easier than explaining this.
How people voted
- OP Is Right — 29% (33 votes)
- Both Messy — 41% (46 votes)
- OP Is Wrong — 30% (34 votes)
Readers say “Both Messy” (41%) — 113 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@remyy — My bf and I just tell everyone we have food poisoning, it's way less complicated lol.
@yarafr — You made this bed, now you have to host a potluck in it.
@yarawelp — This is a classic people-pleaser spiral, you're so afraid of disappointing them that you create a bigger problem.
@itsmeagain — Are you sure your families actually want to go and aren't just calling your bluff?
@umamm — Oh you guys! That is hilarious but also I totally get it. Sometimes you just need a break! Maybe just make it a small get together this first time.
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