I Fainted during a Family Gathering Because My Husband Won’t Help with Our Newborn to Let Me Sleep
My husband and I were meant to be a team when we welcomed our first
child, but he turned on me. Recently, I experienced one of the most
embarrassing and eye-opening moments of my life. Let me backtrack a bit.
My husband, Jake, 29, and I welcomed our beautiful daughter, Tilly,
three weeks ago.
Whenever I ask Tilly’s father for help, he says, “Let me relax; my
paternity leave is so short.” I’ve struggled alone with sleepless
nights, and things went too far last Saturday during a family gathering.
As the party progressed, Jake was busy telling everyone, “I needed this
paternity leave because I couldn’t imagine how much more exhausted I
would have been working AND taking care of the baby.”
Exhausted, I fainted right there in the middle of the party. I awoke
to concerned family members and Jake’s frown. He later exploded at home,
annoyed that I embarrassed him, accusing me of making him “look bad!”
Just as I was about to leave for my mom’s place, my in-laws arrived
with a professional nanny they had hired. “She’s here to help with the
baby and to teach Jake about caring for her,” my MIL explained. They
also insisted I go on a spa retreat for a week.
Overwhelmed by their kindness, I immediately agreed. The week was
blissful and helped me recover. Back home, the changes were remarkable!
The nanny had put Jake through a rigorous “baby boot camp.” He learned
to change diapers, cook baby meals, soothe a crying baby, and manage a
sleep schedule. Jake greeted me with a heartfelt apology, having sold
his vintage guitars to pay for the nanny and my retreat, showing his
commitment to our family
