My Wife’s Daughters Wanted Me to Pay for Their Weddings — How I Taught Them a Respectful Lesson

My Wife’s Entitled Daughters Demanded That I Pay for Their Weddings — I Taught Them a Lesson in Respect

Although his daughters solely cared about money, Jack thought that love was more important than money. He was devastated when they insisted that he cover the cost of their nuptials. Jack demonstrated to them the genuine meaning of family and respect, determined to teach them a valuable lesson.

I’m Jack, and I’m fifty-five and counting. Let’s get real now. Which is more important, love or money? I take it you’d say love? That’s why this story is so heartbreaking, actually. My girls made the money choice.
My lovely wife Mary split from her unfaithful ex fifteen years ago. She gave us three amazing teenage girls, and we have been happily married for ten years. I threw open my arms and embraced them as if they were my own, ecstatic.

The oldest, Lily, warmed up to me immediately. Even if we’re not quite matched, she’s always been supportive and nice to us, especially when someone is sick.
Amelia and Sandra, the other two? Not in that way. I truly did give it my all, people. However, kids have always perceived everything about me—including my income, automobile, and appearance—through the prism of their father.

There was no doubt that they never warmed up to me. Nevertheless, I supported them throughout college, provided for their needs, and carried out all of a father’s duties. That should be sufficient, I thought.
We rarely saw each other outside of holidays. However, yesterday, whoa! They both called, almost simultaneously. This is how it transpired:

“Jack,” they said, “we’ve made the decision to tie the knot twice! And, you know…”
Their voices had the sound of currency signs clinking, almost.
“And?” I questioned, already sensing my stomach knot getting tighter.
They said, “We want you to pay for them,” as if that were the most obvious thing ever.
My teeth sounded like they were crushing together because my jaw was so tight. Who pays for their nuptials? The audacity!

Don’t get me wrong, there wouldn’t have been a money problem. Regardless of whether they felt the same way, I always thought of them as my daughters. However, their arrogant demeanor? That hurt.
“Why me?” With a tight voice, I manage to escape.
“Well, you did pay for Lily’s, didn’t you?” Sandra interjected.

It was a different tale during Lily’s wedding. She never held out expectations or extended her hand. But I was there for her, all smiles and a helping hand, when she needed it.
But these two? They continuously made fun of me and made comparisons to their biological father. Although it hurt, I continued to love them as if they were my own despite their lack of affection. I mean, I wasn’t exactly a walking ATM.
“What about your dad?” I inquired, hoping for some semblance of manners.

“He says it’s too expensive for him,” Amelia groaned, her voice tinged with a whiff of conceit. “So, since your pockets are deeper, you’re up, right?”
I wanted to scream. to express to them how ungrateful and conceited their behavior was. But then something clicked in my mind. I could try to use this as an opportunity to teach them a lesson. A lesson in the true meaning of family, love, and respect.

I tried to seem calm as I said, “Okay, let’s talk about this in person. Come on over tomorrow night so we can discuss things further.”
With virtually bouncing excitement, they both agreed. They believed they had me completely under control, as you can see. They had no idea that things would soon flip around on them.
The doorbell resounded throughout the house the following evening. Sandra and Amelia were waiting there when I opened the door, their arms laden with grocery bags and takeout containers protruding from the top.

With an artificial smile, Sandra exclaimed, “Hey, Jack!” “We carried dinner. Your favorite is Thai.”
Amelia gave her sister a shove. It’s not just Thai; it’s Pad Thai, actually. Make the correct decision.”
With a bland demeanor, I held the door open. “Please enter. However, let’s discuss about this wedding business before we start eating.”

We all sat down at the living room table, temporarily forgetting about the takeout. I exhaled deeply and outlined everything.
“I’ll be honest; even though I helped you both through college, I haven’t always felt appreciated in return. You now want me to cover the cost of your nuptials? Let’s discuss why you believe that to be fair.
The air was heavy with silence. Sandra and Amelia looked at each other, a quiet exchange of words.

Sandra eventually said, “Well, you paid for Lily’s wedding. You should really do the same for us, isn’t that fair?
“It has nothing to do with fairness,” I shot back. “Lily has consistently shown kindness and deference. She never asked for anything, but I was more than willing to assist her when she did. Conversely, you two have never stopped criticizing me and drawing comparisons between me and the wealthy fathers of your pals. You’ve never called me ‘dad,’ or even treated me like family.”
“But we’re family!” With a rebellious undertone, Amelia cut in. “You do things for family, right?”

“Family, huh?” Raising an eyebrow, I said. My tongue tasted nasty when I spoke it. “To be honest, there hasn’t exactly been a reciprocal feeling. It’s more like strangers living together, isn’t it? Hey, let’s see what that really means if you want to pull the family card. Are you ready for a test?”
I leaned forward, a naughty smile tugging at the corner of my lips. “Okay, let’s make a deal. I’ll help with your nuptials, but there’s a catch,” I said, pausing to let the suspense to mount.
“I want both of you to live here, help out, and treat me with genuine respect for the next three months. Just sincere work; no more negativity or comparisons. The money is yours if, after three months, I see a genuine change of heart. However, if nothing changes, you’ll have to start over when it comes to organizing your wedding and finding a different way to pay for the big day.”

Once more, the room became quiet, and it was evident to see how surprised they were. For three months? Reside here? They weren’t prepared for it.
“Three months?” Amelia gave a stutter. “However, we have plans! Jobs, residences…”
“Those plans can wait,” I firmly stated. “I’m making this offer. Accept it or don’t.”
They looked at each other in panic. Though it was obvious they weren’t excited about the idea, the possibility of a free wedding must have been alluring.
Sandra finally spoke, letting out a defeated sigh. “All right, all right. Three months. However, we don’t wash dishes.”
I laughed. “There’s no denying that the food is included. However, at least you’ll have a roof over your head and some tasty meals prepared at home.”

The next few weeks required some adjustment, to put it mildly. It wasn’t like Sandra and Amelia were household deities. The criticism of my furniture choices turned into a daily ritual, and I was constantly the target of passive-aggressive remarks.
However, things began to shift gradually. They witnessed my diligence in maintaining the household and my attention to detail when preparing meals for the family.
Even though they initially resisted, they started helping out with tasks. We resumed our family dinners, which were difficult at first but became more natural as the evenings went on.

They saw directly the devotion and affection I felt, even in the absence of reciprocation, for their mother and for them. They heard about the compromises I made and the overtime I put in to provide them a good existence. The walls of animosity started to come down gradually.
By the time the three months were over, their perspectives had changed. They now considered me to be a true member of their family rather than an outsider. I watched them transform from conceited girls into compassionate women.

Sandra raised her voice one evening while we were all seated around the table.
“Jack,” she murmured in the beginning. “These last few months have really opened my eyes.” We sincerely apologize for how we handled you. In actuality, our fiancés are contributing to a portion of the wedding expenses, and we will also be contributing from our savings.”
“But that’s not all,” Amelia added. “All we really want is for you to lead us down the aisle. Our father, well, after the divorce, he was not around. Conversely, you were there at all times. It was you who always stepped up to pay for Lily’s wedding and for our education.”
Yes, we really apologize for not appreciating you for who you really are. It stings to understand today that we were deprived of a true father figure,” Sandra continued.
An emotional surge swept over me. And there they were, expressing regret and admitting my influence on their lives. It exceeded all of my expectations.

I nodded, experiencing a knot in my throat. “Girls, I really appreciate that and wasn’t really expecting to hear it from you. However, I still want to discuss your weddings.
I fulfilled my promise and helped with their weddings. The best present, though, was intangible. It was our growing mutual regard that was the catalyst.

Not only was I proud of my daughters’ pleasure as I accompanied them down the aisle, but I was also proud of the adventure we had all taken. It served as a tribute to forgiveness, family, and the unforeseen ways in which love can blossom.

Their nuptials evolved into a celebration of their love stories as well as the stronger, more polite family we had grown to be, along with a shared goal of a better future.