I’m 30, and I just had my first baby, Lila. She’s 9 weeks old and perfect, but also a bundle of chaos. She cries like she’s in a horror movie, hates naps, and lives in my arms. I’m on unpaid maternity leave, which means I’m working around the clock with no breaks or paycheck, handling the house, laundry, meals, and litter boxes.
My husband Mason, 34, works in finance. He used to be sweet, but now he barely sees me. The other day, I told him the vacuum broke and asked him to grab a new one. He just shrugged and said, “Use a broom.” He claimed his mom raised five kids with a broom and didn’t complain. When I pointed out the mess, he said it wasn’t that bad and that he was saving for a yacht trip with his friends.
I kept quiet, but inside, I was boiling. That night, after Lila fell asleep, I snapped the broom in half. The next day, I drove to Mason’s office with Lila in tow, broom in hand, and walked into his meeting. I placed the broken broom on the table and said, “I tried using it like your mom did. But it broke again.” His coworkers went silent, and Mason looked mortified.
We stepped outside, and he snapped, “You embarrassed me.” I calmly responded, “I’m just doing what you said.” I’d already ordered a new vacuum with his card, and I left without saying more.
That night, Mason came home quieter than usual. He confessed he’d talked to HR about our “adjustment period” and stress at home. I told him, “You’re either a husband and father, or a roommate with a guilt complex. You decide.”
The next day, he canceled his yacht trip and vacuumed every rug in the house twice. He started doing his part—changing diapers, taking 3 a.m. shifts, and even walking Lila so I could nap. He didn’t mention the broom, but it still sits in the hallway, just in case he forgets.
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