A 24-year-old woman, overwhelmed by caring for her four children, including two sets of twins aged five and three, while working from home, turned to Reddit for advice.
A mother with twin daughters | Source: Shutterstock
She left her husband and kids at home for a weekend without telling them in advance because she needed a break. She did this after her 27-year-old husband criticized her for not keeping the house clean enough.
He would also criticize her for sometimes serving frozen dinners instead of cooking from scratch. Her husband believed that since she was at home all day and her job was “easier” than his physical labor job, she should be able to do more household chores.
The wife, overwhelmed with the responsibilities of caring for their home, doing laundry, washing dishes, and meeting their four children’s needs, tried to find some balance.
A mother waving to her twin sons | Source: Shutterstock
Her husband, who used his free time from work to sleep or hang out with friends, didn’t help her with these tasks. When she tried to take some time off to be with her friends and recharge, her husband didn’t support her. This led to a big argument between them, but he still expected her to take care of the kids.
Feeling desperate and defiant, she left a note for her husband after he fell asleep, saying she was going out with her friends for the night. He found the note, called her, and yelled at her.
Her friends heard this and convinced her to ignore the call and enjoy her time off. What was supposed to be a short break turned into a whole weekend away with her friends.
A notepad and pen next to a bed | Source: Shutterstock
However, when she returned home, she found a big mess. There was garbage everywhere, clothes piled up, and a bad smell in the house. This showed how much the family depended on her to keep things in order, and how everything fell apart in her absence.
After the wife returned from her weekend away, she found her husband had packed a suitcase. He spoke very little to her and then left to stay at his mother’s house. He texted her about his decision.
A couple arguing on a sofa | Source: Shutterstock
This made the wife feel guilty because she realized her husband couldn’t care for their children. She also didn’t want their relationship to suffer. Many people commented on her Reddit post, supporting her decision to take a break.
However, they pointed out that she should have arranged child care since her husband wasn’t capable of looking after the kids. Some commenters warned her that her relationship might suffer not because she left but because her husband didn’t support her or care for their children properly. Others accused her husband of treating her like a servant.
A woman crying as she pinches the bridge of her nose | Source: Shutterstock
One commenter shared a personal story about being with a man who behaved similarly to the woman’s husband, saying such men do not change. They advised the woman to leave the relationship for her and her children’s sake. They emphasized that it was bad enough for her to be mistreated but worse to allow the children to be treated that way.
A frustrated woman on her sofa | Source: Shutterstock
People gave her various advice, including legal actions she could consider to protect herself and her children if she chose to leave her husband. They also advised her on handling potential resistance from her husband during any legal process.