Then came the scrapbook — a heartfelt testament to their journey together. More than just photos and dates, it was a tapestry of memories, love, and pride woven by the girl who saw not just the desserts, but the love behind each one. Her words broke through his defenses, turning flour-covered hands into a vessel of deep emotion, forever etching their story in the pages of his heart.
I [16M] started dating my girlfriend 2 years ago. I also got super super into baking around that time. I bake a lot. My girlfriend loves desserts. So I’ve given her a ton of stuff I bake, all kinds of different stuff.
I often try to bake something new and then she gets to try something new. I honestly love baking way more than eating it. My girlfriend is the opposite.
Well recently she gave me a scrapbook she made. She had counted every thing I baked her apparently, and she gave me this scrapbook after I baked her, her 100th dessert. It was filled with a picture of every dessert I’ve baked and pictures of me baking and her eating.
She wrote a paragraph about each item I baked. Each item was dated too. She had been working on this for 2 years. She also wrote a long letter on how proud she is of my baking hobby, thanking me for the sweets, and telling me how much she loves me.
It was the sweetest gift I’ve ever gotten and I honestly cried.
I showed my mom and sister expecting them to think its cute but they were pissed. They were angry I’ve spent so much time baking for my girlfriend and not them. I just got into this habit and I loved making my girlfriend happy as well since she loves desserts.
Conclusion
The original poster experienced deep appreciation for a thoughtful, time-intensive gift from his girlfriend, which was centered around his personal hobby. However, this expression of affection created immediate conflict with his mother and sister, who felt overlooked and unappreciated because the OP dedicated significant time and effort to baking solely for his partner.
The central question is whether the OP has a responsibility to balance his dedications across his romantic partner and his immediate family, or if his time spent on a hobby gifted to his girlfriend is an entirely personal choice that does not require equitable distribution among other relatives?
Here’s how people reacted:
Although not on purpose, but this is your family. These people wiped your ass and raised you. I was sixteen once and I get the extremely myopic view of teenagers. It’s hard to appreciate your family and of course girlfriend takes precedence at that age (I did the same thing at 16, I’m 27 and taught teenagers), but as you get older you’re going to realize it’s a pretty shitty move to not do things for your actual family. You don’t necessarily have to bake for them all the time but it would be a kind thing to share your talent with them. After all, these people know you for your entire life and will hopefully be there through thick and thin. Again, it’s hard to not be a selfish teenager but really think about all that you have because of your. It’s not hard to bake double or split the yield. Who’s oven are you using? Who’s house are you living in? Who has always been there for you?
Maybe if you wanted to make them some extra cookies that would be cool of you. That is a super sweet way for your GF to tell you that your efforts are appreciated.
Some people feel entitled to the efforts of their family members (siblings, children) this is not so. If you had been drawing her art (they would be salty) if you had been writing her poetry, if you had been growing her flowers ect.
My question is how did they not notice Your new hobby? How much time do they spend asking after you?
Maybe if they paid any interest in your hobby they would have scored extra cookies.
I don’t think you’re the asshole, you’re 16, this kinda thing doesn’t usually occur to teenagers, but I don’t think they’re the asshole for asking.
You’re 16, and started this at 14. Presumably you’re living at home, with your mother and sister?
Who is paying for these ingredients? Presumably you only have 1 kitchen in the house, with a single oven, so are you displacing your family from the kitchen while you’re making these things?
Have you ever given your family any of these deserts you’ve made? you don’t answer that in the post. If you’ve made 100 different deserts, and NEVER shared your baking with your family, despite making it with ingredients bought by your parents, in their house, then I’d say Y T A a bit.
Don’t let your family bring you down. You bake for whomever you want to. Its your time and energy.
Your family definitely won’t appreciate your baking like your girlfriend does.
Paragraph 2: even more wholesome, why is this on this sub?!
Paragraph 3: BuT wHy DiDn’T yOu MaKe **Me** DeSsErT????!!!!
NTA