At seven months pregnant and running on fumes, I asked my husband if I could begin my maternity leave a little early. Instead of offering support, he lectured me about pregnancy, accused me of being lazy, and insisted that women work through pregnancy all the time—adding that he wasn’t about to “pick up the slack.” I didn’t fight back. I simply smiled… and started planning the perfect payback.
For the next week, I turned into a superhuman—keeping the house spotless, cooking extravagant meals, and juggling my full-time job like a pro. Doug was thrilled with my “burst of energy,” totally oblivious to what was coming.
Then Friday arrived. I had a surprise lined up: a full-day fatherhood boot camp. I enlisted a parenting coach and borrowed my friend’s rambunctious twins to give Doug a crash course in chaos. While I “went to a doctor’s appointment,” he got hit with diapers, spit-up, tantrums, and mayhem. When I returned home, he looked like he’d survived a war zone.
That night, I handed him a scrapbook—each page filled with the everyday tasks I quietly handle. The reality sank in fast. He was overwhelmed with guilt and offered a heartfelt apology, finally seeing everything I do. Then came the kicker—Doug called his mom to say sorry for constantly comparing me to her, only to learn she hadn’t worked through her pregnancy at all. She’d taken months off before giving birth. So much for his idea of “toughness.”
Now? Doug is a changed man—more attentive, more grateful, and far more understanding. I didn’t just prove a point. I gave him a full-on wake-up call—wrapped in sleepless nights, spit-up, and a whole lot of love.
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