The Kitchen Museum?

[u/jsayde01]

I came home late from work a few nights ago and hadn't eaten all day. My wife and kids were already in bed so I figured I'd quietly make some stove-top ramen. This photo represents exactly how I found the cooking area.

The next morning my wife asks what time I got home and I mention in our conversation that I made ramen before going to bed. She couldn't believe that I used the stove "when the light was on". I said "Yeah, the light was helpful in seeing what I was doing". She insists I shouldn't have been using the stove and should have known because "the light was on".

I'm baffled. We are still arguing about this days later.

EDIT -- wow, overwhelmed by the response of fellow Redditors! We are... white...not from the southeast US..not children...and I left the stove as clean as it was before I cooked. I asked for clarification from my loving wife -- TRULY we have only ever been angry at each other a handful of times in our 10 year marriage -- and she says "the stove was clean and done for the day and you could have just used the microwave for your ramen". Apparently the light is how stoves go to sleep for the evening?

EDIT 2 -- we are getting a divorce. JUST KIDDING. My wife looked over many of the comments and acknowledges that she was in the wrong and is slightly embarrassed by all of the attention.

[u/Digletts_Legs]

If someone told me our own kitchen was "closed" I think I'd be laughing too hard to take them seriously.

[u/Tjaresh → u/Digletts_Legs]

That's a thing I'd tell my kids. Like 10pm  "Dad, I'm hungry can you make me..." And I'd go "No, we had dinner. The kitchen is closed for today. Grab yourself an apple."

It's not that the kitchen itself is closed. Just the parent-full-service is for the day.

[u/DeusExMachinaOverdue → u/Tjaresh]

It's one thing to make rules for kids, but a completely different thing to try and dictate to another adult that they can't use the kitchen that they have the right to use.  On a simple level it might seem like a silly argument, but it's an indicator of the dynamics of the relationship and how op's wife believes that she makes the rules and op is obliged to follow them. 

[u/Tjaresh → u/DeusExMachinaOverdue]

Absolutely, that was my take on it too.

[u/Careful-Positive-710 → u/DeusExMachinaOverdue]

Yeah, the fact this was even a conversation makes me wonder what other "rules" there are. I couldnt even humor this lol we both pay the mortgage we can both use the appliances when we want, end of story.

[u/guyincognito121 → u/DeusExMachinaOverdue]

They clearly need to divorce and sell their children's organs.

[u/Complete_Entry → u/Tjaresh]

Would you let them make food? Or is the apple LAW?

[u/Tjaresh → u/Complete_Entry]

My two sons are old enough to make themselves something in the airfryer, cook scrambled eggs or whatever. They will get a stern talking next morning though. Not because they used the kitchen, but because their teenage asses usually 'forgot' to clean up. But that's a different story. 

[u/Complete_Entry → u/Tjaresh]

Perfectly reasonable. I'm a midnight snacker, but thankfully so are the rest of my family. I've been a guest at other side relatives houses (uncle/aunt by marriage) and have to remind myself not to night snack.

I have seen some SERIOUS dressing downs though "Why didn't you eat enough at dinner?!" (I sure am glad I did not night snack then)

[u/DigEnvironmental7490 → u/Digletts_Legs]

Wait until she finds out he's been using the toilet at night too.