AITA for locking my children out of my room and refusing to look after them?
She carries the weight of motherhood quietly, juggling three young children and a household with unwavering dedication.
Despite both parents working, she shoulders the bulk of childcare and domestic duties, often sacrificing her own well-being to keep the family moving forward.
When illness strikes, her vulnerability is met with little support, revealing the silent struggles beneath the surface of everyday life.
In a moment of exhaustion and need, she reaches out for help, only to find her partner retreating, leaving her to navigate the chaos alone.
Her youngest clings desperately, her children instinctively turning to her, while her partner’s presence is distant and conditional.
This story lays bare the emotional toll and imbalance that can fester behind closed doors, demanding recognition and change.
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The original poster (OP) felt physically overwhelmed by illness and needed a full day of rest, leading to a conflict where her partner expected her to provide emotional comfort to the children despite her condition.
The central conflict lies between the OP's need for self-care when sick and her partner's expectation that she remain the default primary caregiver, especially for the most distressed child.
Given the es**blished division of labor and the OP's genuine sickness, was it reasonable for the partner to insist she manage the emotional needs of the children, or did the OP have a right to complete physical withdrawal from care duties for one day?
Where should the responsibility for emotional regulation of the children fall when one parent is incapacitated?
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