I discovered my husband\u2019s evil side when I got sick. He left me and our newborn because he didn\u2019t want to be a good father and husband, so I played along. But I won!<\/p>\n
My husband Drew is 33, and we have a six-month-old kid named Sadie. My husband suddenly considered all of that a minor annoyance when I got sick.<\/p>\n
Approximately a month ago. I had a terrible virus. Something approximately, not COVID-19 or RSV. Worst part? Sadie had just gotten over a cold, so I was exhausted.<\/p>\n
I was unwell, sleep-deprived, and caring for a clingy infant from her recovery. Drew was acting strangely for weeks before I became sick.<\/p>\n
He was alone.<\/p>\n
For illustration only: Constantly on his phone, laughing during private moments. When I asked what was hilarious, he shrugged and said, \u201cIt\u2019s work stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
My husband replied, \u201cYou always seem exhausted,\u201d as I rocked Sadie and attempted to conceal a cough one night.<\/p>\n
Yes, duh. \u201cI\u2019m raising a human,\u201d I said, annoyed.<\/p>\n
I hoped he would see my struggle and help. Help out. Be my husband.<\/p>\n
I could scarcely sit up the night my fever hit 102.4! I looked at him and whispered, \u201cCan you please take Sadie? Just lie down for 20 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t blink. I can\u2019t. Your cough keeps me awake. NEED SLEEP. I might stay with my parents a couple nights.\u201d<\/p>\n
For illustration only, he did not inquire about Sadie\u2019s care, while I struggled.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally leaving me sick and alone with the baby?\u201d I texted.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re mom. You handle this better than me. I\u2019d obstruct. I\u2019m fatigued and your cough is excruciating.\u201d<\/p>\n
FINE!
\nI survived the weekend. I ate little. After Sadie napped, I cried in the shower.<\/p>\n
So I did.<\/p>\n
Creating my plan. I assumed if he didn\u2019t mind being sick and abandoned, I\u2019d show him.<\/p>\n
I texted him a week later.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi babe. I feel lot better. You can return.\u201d<\/p>\n
He acted immediately. \u201cThank God! I rarely sleep here. Mom\u2019s dog snores and she asks for yard work help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yard work. Sad infant. Think about it.<\/p>\n
When he entered, everything seemed normal.<\/p>\n
I struck after a few minutes of leisure!<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u201d I said pleasantly, \u201cCan you hold Sadie? I need something upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure,\u201d<\/p>\n
Just for illustration, I returned five minutes later with my little suitcase and auto keys. Sadie smiled and babbled in his lap.<\/p>\n
He blinked at the movement. What\u2019s that?<\/p>\n
\u201cI booked a weekend spa retreat,\u201d I remarked calmly. \u201cMassage, facial, room service. I just need rest.\u201d<\/p>\n
He sat up, bewildered. Wait, you\u2019re leaving?<\/p>\n
\u201cYep. Just two nights. I gave directions. She has toys and labeled bottles. We have diapers and wipes. On the fridge are emergency numbers. Got heaps of goods. Everything\u2019s good. I planned ahead for you, unlike you. Besides, you\u2019re dad. You handle this well.\u201d<\/p>\n
He began, \u201cClaire, I don\u2019t know what to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Raised hand. \u201cNo, no. Remember your words last week? \u2018You\u2019re mom. You handle this better than me. Now your turn.\u201d
\nThen I left. I drove 45 minutes to a peaceful, quiet inn with a spa and free chocolate chip cookies in the foyer.<\/p>\n
I ignored calls and texts that day.<\/p>\n
Instead, I had a 90-minute massage, napped, read by the fireplace, got a manicure, and watched trashy reality shows in a fluffy robe. Bliss!<\/p>\n
He called twice. Left 2 voicemails. There was slight panic. Someone tried to guilt-trip me.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire, Sadie won\u2019t nap. Your method is beyond me. Her spit hit me twice. Call me back.\u201d<\/p>\n
I did not, for illustration only.<\/p>\n
I FaceTimed that evening because I missed my daughter and loved him, unlike him.<\/p>\n
War zone when I got home Sunday night! Toys everywhere.<\/p>\n
Drew, fatigued and embarrassed, gazed at me like a goddess with boundless abilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get it now,\u201d he muttered. \u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you?\u201d I requested.<\/p>\n
He nodded. \u201cI erred.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a list. A schedule. Morning, night, grocery, laundry, and bath care. His name was on half.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t tap out anymore,\u201d I said. \u201cI need a partner. No third child.\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded slowly. \u201cOkay. I\u2019m in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since then, he\u2019s tried getting up when baby cries at night, making bottles, and changing diapers!<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not stupid. Not forgiving him right away. Still watching. Awaiting decision.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I discovered my husband\u2019s evil side when I got sick. He left me and our newborn because he didn\u2019t want to be a good father and husband, so I played along. But I won! My husband Drew is 33, and we have a six-month-old kid named Sadie. My husband suddenly considered all of that a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28734"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28734\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28735,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28734\/revisions\/28735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}