AITA for Expecting My Husband to Do “My Job” While I’m on Maternity Leave?
She is drowning in a sea of relentless exhaustion and self-doubt, a new mother overwhelmed by the ceaseless cries of her infant daughter.
Every tear shed feels like a personal failure, as if her inability to soothe Daisy’s colic is a reflection of her worth. The physical pain of her healing body is matched only by the emotional torment of feeling utterly alone in this battle.
Surrounded by indifference and misunderstanding, her husband retreats into his own exhaustion, leaving her to face the nights in solitude.
Meanwhile, her mother-in-law's presence adds tension rather than support, turning the home into a battlefield of silent resentments.
In this fragile moment, she grapples not just with motherhood, but with the aching loneliness that threatens to consume her.
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The original poster (OP) is experiencing extreme physical and emotional distress due to the overwhelming demands of caring for a newborn with colic, managing a difficult recovery from surgery, and coping with the unsupportive behavior of her husband and the intrusive presence of her mother-in-law.
Her central conflict lies in the deeply ingrained societal belief that she, as the mother, should handle nearly all domestic and childcare burdens alone, contrasting sharply with her clear need for immediate support and rest.
Considering the OP’s severe exhaustion and the lack of shared responsibility, is it justifiable for her to demand immediate, concrete changes in household support from her husband, even if it risks further conflict with him and her mother-in-law, or should she prioritize maintaining temporary peace despite her own well-being?
Commenters Came in Hot with Their Takes:
The internet jumped in fast, delivering everything from kind advice to cold truth. It’s a mix of empathy, outrage, and no-nonsense takes.