@kerithravine410 I never comment on this subreddit but holy shit yes yes yes. I knew a month or two into the newborn stage with my useless husband that I would never have another child with him. He carried 0 mental load. Never helped me research pediatricians or baby foods or cribs or high chairs or ANYTHING. His excuse was always “I trust your judgment” or “you’ll just make the final call anyways” which of course is nothing but an excuse because he’s lazy. Like you, I did all the feedings and clothing and even bathing even though he was home from work in the evenings and could help but would sit on his phone on the couch and if I didn’t specifically say “I’m feeding her now can you help?” Or “Going to give a bath now can you please help?” He would just ignore us. He also used Ms. Rachel during his one-on-one times when I needed a shower. I got incredibly sick for a couple days and he just put the baby on the floor and played video games, and eventually when I came into the living room he handed her to me on the couch so he could eat. I didn’t even get a break that day.
Breaking point came when, after asking him for MONTHS to step up, help with his kid, carry the mental load, stop sleeping in till 11 am while I wake up all throughout the night with the baby and then get up with her at 6 am, always met with excuse after excuse and never any changing…. He took off work, NOT to help his absolutely drowning wife, but to play the new Pokémon all day. I couldn’t even look at him I hated him so much and was so disgusted with the human I married. I found out a day later he also had cheated on me. What an absolute utter piece of shit.
I am so ashamed of the behavior I put up with. I am so so ashamed that I became one of “those women” with the terrible ass husband, like it has any reflection on me when it really all reflects on him. But I carry that shame.
I left him that day. And immediately, my life became better. He wasn’t helping anyways with his child, and moving in with my parents was a world of difference with the amount of help I get. I still do 98% of parenting and 100% overnights, but my mom helps with laundry and dinner cleanup and home maintenance and occasionally watches baby while I work. I never had that before. I can breathe again.
And to give you hope, I randomly a few weeks later texted my high school boyfriend who I hadn’t spoken to in ten years but who was such a dear person to me since elementary school. I didn’t intend to rekindle any relationship, but I was hoping to catch up as friends. He’s my boyfriend now, and he is 100% my soulmate. He and his family have embraced my daughter as their own, buying her gifts, showering her with love, checking in on her. He doesn’t have a lot of kid experience but he asks questions, insists on helping where he can, wants to be the one to push her in the swing and stroller. He wants to be a great dad for her, and she isn’t even biologically his.
You deserve better. And I’m not telling you that because I’m telling you to leave him. There may be a thousand reasons why you can’t do that. I’ll never ever judge another woman again for staying with a bad husband. I did for far too long, but when you’re in it you get used to it. Leaving is so so hard. But you should know, you deserve better.
Hugs and love to you