It’s never easy to criticize someone’s work—especially when that person is family. Daniella wanted to support her sister-in-law’s new business by ordering a cake for a special occasion. Unfortunately, what was meant as a kind gesture turned into a painful family conflict. Feeling torn and frustrated, Daniella reached out to us for advice on how to handle the situation.
Here’s her story:
“I was responsible for getting the cake for my parents’ 30th wedding anniversary. My mother-in-law suggested that I order it from her daughter’s new bakery, reminding me that ‘family supports each other!’ I agreed and shared a photo of the $400 cake I wanted.
When the big day arrived, I was shocked—the cake looked nothing like the picture. I immediately said, ‘I’m not paying for this disaster!’
When my husband saw it, he brushed it off, saying, ‘It’s not a big deal, I’ll pay for it.’ But I was furious. We had 20 guests coming, and the party felt ruined because of his sister’s poor work. I told him not to give her a single dollar—she had completely let me down.
That’s when he snapped: ‘If you want to humiliate my sister like this, then I’ll humiliate you by not going to your parents’ party tonight!’
And that’s exactly what happened. I ended up showing up alone—with an awful cake—and had to face everyone’s questions about why my husband wasn’t there. I’m still really upset. Was I wrong to act this way?”