A 30-year-old woman turned to Reddit after a disastrous Thanksgiving left her boyfriend furious and their relationship hanging by a thread. Her crime? Not bringing the turkey. But the story behind her decision reveals a long trail of subtle disrespect and emotional sabotage — mostly from her boyfriend’s mother.
The woman had been dating her boyfriend for three years. Before they got together, he had broken up with his high school sweetheart — a relationship that had lasted for years and was deeply embedded in the family’s dynamic. His mom was especially heartbroken by the breakup and continued to treat the ex like one of her own.
Even though the breakup was mutual and peaceful, his mother refused to let go. And when the new girlfriend entered the picture, the resentment was subtle but constant.
For the first year of their relationship, his mom repeatedly called the woman by the ex’s name. It wasn’t until the boyfriend got visibly upset and told his mom to stop that she brushed it off with a laugh:
“It’s just a habit!”
But even after dropping the ex’s name, she didn’t bother using the correct one. She started calling her random wrong names — Jenny instead of Janet, Janet instead of Jessica — anything but her real name. The woman initially corrected her, but eventually realized the errors seemed too consistent to be innocent.
Weeks before Thanksgiving, the woman was at a barbecue at her boyfriend’s sister’s house. While chatting in the kitchen, the sister complimented her cooking. That’s when the boyfriend’s mom chimed in sarcastically:
“Why don’t we let Janet make the turkey this year?”
The name was wrong — again. But instead of getting mad, the woman smiled and said:
She didn’t argue. She didn’t correct her. She simply made a mental note.
Thanksgiving Day: The “Janet” Turkey Incident
Thanksgiving arrived. The woman and her boyfriend showed up with wine and dessert — but no turkey.
Her boyfriend was livid. He hadn’t spoken to her since. She feared the relationship might be over. But more than anything, she wanted to know if she had gone too far.
The Internet Weighs In
Reddit commenters overwhelmingly supported her. Many hailed her as a “hero,” applauding her calm but sharp method of standing up for herself after years of disrespect.
Some suggested that she could have handled it with a direct conversation — but most agreed that this quiet protest made the point loud and clear. Her boyfriend’s mother had pushed boundaries for too long, and this Thanksgiving, she finally heard the message.