A few weeks ago, my husband Jack and I planned a family trip to reconnect as a family. Jack works so much that we hardly see him, and the goal was to finally spend some quality time together, especially since our youngest is a 5-month-old breastfed baby. We set out Friday morning, excited to get our boat and head to our camp for the weekend. About 40 minutes into the drive, Jack got a call. He started saying things like, “Yeah, I’ll be there soon” and “What did you bring?”

After the call, I asked who it was, and he said it was Jamie, a coworker I had never met. It turned out, Jack had invited Jamie to join our family trip without telling me, thinking it wouldn’t be a big deal. I felt a surge of anger. This trip was meant for our family to reconnect. I didn’t want to nurse our baby or watch over our kids around a stranger while Jack socialized. He insisted it wouldn’t be like that, but I wasn’t convinced, especially since he said that Jamie had brought beer.

A Brewing Storm
As we continued our journey, I stewed in silence, my mind racing. Jack’s obliviousness to my discomfort made my blood boil. He chatted away, seemingly unaware of the tension building beside him. When we finally reached our camp, Jamie was already there, setting up a tent and unloading a cooler filled with beer. Jack greeted him with a hearty laugh, leaving me to manage our three kids and the baby.

I spent the first evening feeling like an outsider in my own family trip. Jack and Jamie shared stories and beers, while I juggled feeding the baby and keeping an eye on our other kids. Every time I looked at Jack, he was deep in conversation with Jamie, hardly noticing the chaos around him. It was clear that Jamie’s presence was a distraction, and my frustration grew.

The Perfect Plan
But my despair vanished when a perfect revenge plan came to mind. With a smile, I told Jack, “Be ready.” When I said be ready, he looked at me surprised, but then just said OK. The next day, I woke up early and made breakfast for everyone, acting as if everything was fine. I wanted Jack to think I had accepted Jamie’s presence. I even packed a picnic basket for later, playing the perfect hostess.

Jamie wasn’t as nice as in this picture
After breakfast, I suggested we all go for a hike. Jamie seemed eager, and Jack agreed enthusiastically. As we set off, I made sure to pack extra supplies, knowing we’d be out for a while. The hike was beautiful, and I used the opportunity to observe Jamie. He seemed nice enough, but his presence still felt like an intrusion.

Halfway through the hike, we reached a scenic spot by a river. I suggested we stop for a break and have the picnic. As we sat down, I handed out sandwiches and drinks, keeping an eye on Jack and Jamie. They were still engrossed in their conversation, barely noticing the kids playing nearby.

The Lesson
After lunch, I decided it was time to put my plan into action. I took Jack aside and whispered, “I’m going to take the kids back to the camp. You and Jamie stay here and enjoy the scenery.” Jack looked puzzled but didn’t argue. He probably thought I was trying to be accommodating.

As I led the kids back, I could see Jack and Jamie settling in for a relaxing afternoon by the river. Once we were out of sight, I quickly gathered our belongings and loaded them into the car. The kids were excited, thinking we were going on another adventure. I drove back to the camp, packed up everything, and headed home, leaving Jack and Jamie to figure out how to get back on their own.

The Aftermath

It was late in the evening when Jack finally called, sounding frantic. “Where are you?” he asked. I calmly explained that I had decided to go home since the family trip had turned into a social event for him and Jamie. Jack was furious, but I didn’t let his anger affect me. I told him that if he wanted to reconnect with the family, he needed to prioritize us, not his coworker.

When Jack finally got home, he was exhausted and apologetic. He admitted that he had been wrong to invite Jamie without asking me and promised to make it up to us. The experience taught him a valuable lesson about communication and consideration. Our next family trip was much more peaceful and fulfilling, with Jack fully present and engaged with the kids and me.

In the end, my drastic measure paid off. It wasn’t the ideal way to handle the situation, but it was effective. Jack learned that our family time was precious and not to be taken for granted. And I learned that sometimes, teaching a lesson requires a bit of boldness and creativity.