To be fair, sometimes there are cultural differences in what is expected. I grew up with Indian parents, and when I was in a serious relationship, assumed the fellow I was dating would pick me up at the airport. The man I married thought this was odd because when he would fly home from college, his father expected him to catch the bus - same with his sister.

However, when I asked him if he would do this for me, he agreed. Later he told me he had found it strange, but he was still willing to do so because he knew it made me happy.

I also did things for him that I knew made him happy, even if I thought they were a bit strange.

When your mom called your dad... he should have just said yes, even if he thought her request was strange, because he should have realized - if she is calling to ask me to do this, then it's important to her. And if it's important to her, I should just do it, just like she does things for me that are important to me. It's a two way street...