My Husband Left Me Sick with Our Baby — What Happened Next Was My Wake-Up Call

My Husband Moved Back in with His Mom Because My Cough ‘Was Annoying’ While I Was Sick with Our Baby – So I Taught Him a Lesson

I finally noticed a part of my husband that I didn’t like when I became ill. I went along with it since he didn’t want to be a decent husband and parent and left me and our newborn. But I was victorious!

I am thirty years old, married to a thirty-three-year-old man named Drew, and we have a baby daughter named Sadie who is six months old. Her sunshine-like smile, plump cheeks, and the cutest little giggle make her the light of my life. However, it seems that my spouse only found all of that to be a small annoyance until I fell ill.

Let me explain what took place. Hold on tight because, in addition to the fact that I had a fever when it all began, it still feels like a fever dream. All of this took place roughly a month ago. I had contracted a vicious infection. Something gnarly, not RSV, not COVID-19.

I mean, this monster caused chills, body aches, and a cough that felt like someone was punching me in the ribs! The worst thing? I was already exhausted because Sadie had just recovered from a cold herself.

By this time, I was exhausted, sickly, and attempting to care for a baby who was still clinging from her own recuperation. Oddly, even before I became ill, Drew had been acting strange for weeks. He was aloof.

He laughed at things he wouldn’t share and was always on his phone. I would ask him what was so hilarious, and he would simply shrug and respond, “It’s work stuff.” He also had a short fuse. The dishes in the sink and my failure to thaw the chicken were among the foolish things he snapped at.

In addition, my spouse kept remarking on how exhausted I appeared. He said, “You always seem exhausted,” one evening as I rocked Sadie in my arms and attempted to stifle a cough.

“Yeah, of course. With a hint of irritation, I answered, “I’m raising a human.”

I hoped that perhaps, just possibly, this sickness might help him recover. I thought he would see my difficulties and take charge at last. Take over the slack. Act like the man I married.

I was mistaken, boy!

I was scarcely able to sit up the night my fever touched 102.4! My skin burned, my hair adhered to my forehead, and I felt like I had been hit by a vehicle. I turned to him and, using every ounce of effort I had, I muttered, “Will you take Sadie? All I have to do is lie down for twenty minutes.

He remained still. “I am unable to. You’re keeping me awake with your cough. I must get some rest. I anticipate spending a few nights at my mother’s house.”

I felt he must be kidding since it was so ridiculous that I genuinely laughed, not because it was funny!

He wasn’t.

He got up, packed a duffel bag, kissed Sadie’s head instead of mine, and left. I continued to question him, “Are you serious now? Are you truly going to leave? And without saying anything, he simply nodded his head.

While I was barely able to stand, he didn’t even bother to inquire about how Sadie would be cared for! She sobbed from exhaustion and hunger as I sat on the couch with her after he departed. I gazed at the entrance. I texted him, and a few minutes later my phone buzzed.

“You’re seriously leaving me here sick and alone with the baby?” Still in shock, I had texted.

“You are the mother. I’m not as good at handling this stuff as you are. I would simply obstruct the path. In addition, your cough is excruciating, and I’m tired.”

I stared at that paragraph in disbelief after reading it five times! I’ll never know if my hands were shaking from the illness or the anger! It was unbelievable to me that this man, who was meant to be my life partner, felt that staying and assisting with OUR child while I was obviously ill was more important than my cough.

OK!

I managed to get through the weekend somehow. I didn’t eat much. When Sadie eventually fell asleep, I sobbed in the shower. I survived on instinct, resolve, and Tylenol alone. And Drew never once checked in during that period!

Family was hours away, so I couldn’t rely on them, and while my friends occasionally called or stopped by, they were either too busy, out of town, or for some other reason. One thought kept coming to me while I was heating up in bed: I have to show this man what it’s like to be totally abandoned.

So I did.

I began formulating my strategy. I reasoned that I would give him a sense of what it was like to be ill and then abandoned if he didn’t think it was a huge concern. I knew exactly what I was going to do by the time I felt somewhat human again, coughing but still functioning and without a fever.

I texted him a week later.

“Hey sweetie. Now I feel so much better. You’re free to return home.

He made no hesitation. “Grateful to God! I haven’t slept here much. Mom continues asking me to help with yard maintenance since her dog snores.

Yard work. Poor little one. Consider that.

I prepared Sadie’s food and bottles, cleaned the entire kitchen before he came back, and even made Drew’s favorite dinner—spaghetti carbonara with garlic bread—from scratch. For the first time in two weeks, I put on makeup, took a shower, and wore clothes that didn’t shout “I’ve been up every two hours with a baby.”

He stepped in and looked around as if nothing had changed. He burped, ate like a king, smiled, and appeared at ease before crashing onto the couch with his phone! He hardly mentioned the week I had gone through!

I finally hit him a few minutes into his downtime!

“Hey,” I said kindly, “Will you please hold Sadie right now? I have to go upstairs and get something.”

He sighed and rolled his eyes before muttering, “Sure,” about it. He held her in one hand while continuing to browse TikTok with the other.

Five minutes later, I came down with my car keys and my little suitcase. In his lap, Sadie was babbling and grinning.

He blinked, seeing the movement. “What’s that?”

Being as composed as possible, I said, “I booked a weekend spa retreat,” “Room service, massage, and facial. All I need is some sleep.

Seated up, he was perplexed. “Wait, you’re going now?!”

“Yes. Only two evenings. I left directions. Her toys are there, and bottles have labels. Wipes and diapers are available. There are emergency numbers on the refrigerator. I received a large amount of food. Everything is fine. I genuinely prepared ahead of time for you, unlike you. In addition, you are the father. You’re capable of handling this.

He said, “Claire, I don’t know what to—”

I held up a hand. “No, no. Remember what you said last week? “You’re the mom.” You are more adept than I am at handling this situation. It’s your time now.

After a few moments of apparent awe, he continued, “Wait—Claire, c’mon. You can’t simply—”

“I am able to. Yes, I am. When I most needed you, you left me. You’ll now understand what it’s like to bear everything by yourself. Unless there is an actual emergency, don’t call. Additionally, don’t dump her off on your mother. The father is you. Work things out.

His eyes were wide as he gazed at me. He wasn’t processing what was going on, in my opinion.

“You desired to sleep? I hope you are able to obtain any. Goodbye, my love. I’ll return on Sunday evening.

After that, I left. The door was not slammed by me. In the car, I didn’t cry. I took a 45-minute drive to a lovely, peaceful, and quiet little inn with free chocolate chip cookies in the lobby and a spa.

I promised not to take any calls or texts that day. I reasoned that Drew could call his mother or take Sadie to the hospital if there was a serious problem. I even disregarded the initial flurry of frantic FaceTime and voicemail efforts.

Rather, I got a pedicure, read by the fireplace, napped, watched trashy reality shows in a soft robe, and had a 90-minute massage. Happiness!

Saturday? slept in till nine in the morning, had a facial, and read a novel by the fire while enjoying a warm croissant.

He made two calls. Two voicemails were left. The first was slight panic. The other was an attempt to make me feel guilty.

“Sadie refuses to nap, Claire. How you manage to achieve this is beyond me. Twice she spat on me. Kindly give me a call back.

I didn’t.

However, I did FaceTime that night because, in spite of everything, I still genuinely loved him and missed my kid.

Drew appeared to have aged ten years as the television came on. Sadie chewed on the string of his hoodie while in his arms, her hair disheveled. Her diaper appeared to be… full.

Saying, “Hey, Sadie-bug,” I lowered my voice. “Mommy misses you.”

She grinned. made a move toward the screen. Drew appeared to want to dissolve.

He said the word “Claire,” his voice breaking. “I apologize. I sincerely apologize. I had no idea how difficult this was.

I’m serious!

I gave a nod. “I know.”

I returned home to a battle zone on Sunday night! There are toys everywhere. bottles in the sink that are dirty. Drew’s eyes were sunken, his hair sticking out like a cartoon scientist, and he was still wearing the same clothing from the previous day!

When Sadie spotted me, she giggled and squealed! I took her in my arms and gave her a full body kiss! She was alright, perhaps a bit touchy, but she smelled like baby wipes and terror.

goddess with boundless abilities—tired and humiliated.

A whisper, “I get it now,” he said. “I really do.”

I said, “Do you?”

He gave a nod. “I messed up.”

I took a folded piece of paper out of my handbag and set it down on the table. It wasn’t divorce paperwork, at least not yet, so don’t get too enthusiastic. He likely believed that the papers would spell the end of our marriage as he peered down like a deer in headlights.

However, it was a list. A timetable. chores in the morning, feedings at night, grocery shopping, laundry, and bathing. Half of them have his name next to them.

When I told him, “You don’t get to tap out anymore,” “I require a companion. No third child.

Slowly, he nodded. “All right. I’m on board.

He has been making an effort, to his credit. At night, when Sadie cries, he awakens. Finally, he was able to change her diaper without gagging after making her bottles! He didn’t even need to watch a tutorial to understand how to swaddle her!

However, I’m not a moron. I’m taking my time forgiving him. I continue to observe. I’m still debating.

I’m not the kind of woman you abandon when times become hard, but at least he now understands that love doesn’t mean letting someone walk all over you.