My Husband Refused to Help with the Kids Because He ‘Works All Day’ — So I Gave Him a Day off He’ll Never Forget

At 5:30 a.m., my day starts thanks to Lily, my eight-month-old alarm clock. After feeding her and settling her in the bouncer, Noah, my four-year-old, asks for pancakes, but I give him oatmeal instead. This routine is just the beginning of my chaotic day as a stay-at-home mom. Mark, my husband, wakes up after I’ve already handled everything and leaves for work without acknowledging my efforts.

He thinks I spend my days on break, joking, “Must be nice to stay in pajamas.” When I asked for help, he’d say, “I already worked today.” The final straw came when he asked why I was so tired.

I decided to give him a taste of my “break.” I left him a detailed schedule, spent the day at a spa, and returned to a frazzled husband and a messy house. He admitted, “I had no idea. It’s constant.”

From then on, he helped more and defended my work when others joked about it. I’ve even booked another “day off”—this time, a family day with hired help.