When my husband, Eric, suggested having a third child, I knew something had to change. I wasn’t about to take on more responsibility while he lounged around like a king. After I told him exactly what I thought, he kicked me out — but not before I turned the tables on him.
Have you ever had one of those moments where you finally hit your breaking point? That was me when my husband demanded another baby as if I didn’t already have my hands full raising two kids practically alone.
What followed was a showdown I never saw coming.
A woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
My husband, Eric, and I have been married for 12 years. I’m 32, and he’s 43. We have two kids: our daughter, Lily, who’s ten, and our son, Brandon, who’s five.
Raising them has been my full-time job while I keep this house running.
I work part-time from home to help with the bills, but still handle everything. By everything, I mean cooking, cleaning, school drop-offs, laundry, bedtime routines, and more.
A woman working in the kitchen | Source: Pexels
Eric, on the other hand, believes his only job is to “provide.” And that’s where his involvement ends. He’s never changed a diaper, stayed up with a sick kid, or even packed a lunchbox.
It’s exhausting, but I love my kids.
I’ve accepted that I’m basically a single parent while Eric sits on the couch, watching sports or playing video games. But that doesn’t mean I don’t get frustrated.
A person holding a game controller | Source: Pexels
Last month, my best friend invited me out for coffee. It was the first time in weeks I had a chance to get out of the house for something fun.
“Eric, can you watch the kids for an hour?” I asked as I slipped on my shoes.
His eyes stayed glued to the TV. “I’m tired. I worked all week. Why don’t you just take them with you?”
I sighed. “Because I want a break. It’s just an hour. They’ll be fine.”
A close-up shot of a woman’s face | Source: Midjourney
Eric rolled his eyes, reaching for the remote. “Katie, you’re the mom. Moms don’t get breaks. My mom never needed breaks. Neither did my sister.”
My jaw clenched. “Oh, so Brianna and Amber never felt overwhelmed? They never needed a minute to themselves?”
“Exactly,” he said smugly. “They managed just fine. You should, too.”
That’s when I lost it.
A man looking at his wife | Source: Midjourney
“Eric, your mom and sister probably felt exactly like I do! They just never said it out loud because they knew no one would listen.”
Eric waved his hand dismissively. “Whatever. It’s your job, Katie. You wanted kids. Now take care of them.”
I wanted to scream.
“They’re your kids, too!” I said. “When do you ever take care of them? When was the last time you helped Lily with her homework? Or played with Brandon? Or asked them how their day was?”
A woman arguing with her husband | Source: Midjourney
“I go to work to keep a roof over your head. That’s enough.”
“No, it’s not!” I shot back. “Providing money isn’t the same as being a parent. You’re their father, Eric. They need you.”
“Well, tough. I’m not changing how things are.”
I stared at him, speechless. How did I end up married to someone so selfish?
A woman sitting in her house | Source: Midjourney
A few days later, Eric started mentioning having another baby. At first, I thought he was joking. I mean, we could barely handle the two kids we already had.
But the more he brought it up, the more I realized he was serious.
The next time Eric brought up having a third child, it wasn’t just a passing comment. He was serious.
It started over dinner one night. I was cutting up Brandon’s chicken nuggets when Eric, casually scrolling on his phone, said, “You know, I’ve been thinking… we should have another baby.”
A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney
“Excuse me?” I said as I turned toward him.
He looked up. “A third kid. I think it’s time.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Eric, I barely manage with the two we already have. And you want to add another?”
His brow furrowed like I was the one being unreasonable. “What’s the big deal? We’ve already done it twice. You know how it works.”
A man looking at a woman | Source: Midjourney
“That’s exactly the point,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “I know how it works. I’m the one who does all the work. I’m the one up at night. I’m the one running around like a lunatic, trying to keep everything together. You don’t help.”
Eric’s face darkened. “I provide for this family, Katie. That’s helping.”
“No, it’s not,” I snapped. “Being a parent is more than just bringing home a paycheck.”
A woman talking to a man | Source: Midjourney
Before Eric could respond, his mother, Brianna, who had stopped by earlier to “visit the kids” with her daughter, walked into the kitchen.
“Everything okay in here?” Brianna asked, her eyes darting between us.
Eric sighed dramatically. “Mom, she’s at it again.”
I rolled my eyes. “At what again?”
“She keeps telling me I don’t help with the kids.”
Brianna’s lips pursed as she took a seat. “Katie, sweetheart, you need to be careful. A man doesn’t like to feel criticized by his wife.”
An older woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
Criticized? I was fuming. “I’m not criticizing him. I’m asking him to be a parent. There’s a difference.”
But Brianna wasn’t hearing it. “Eric works hard to provide for this family. You should be grateful.”
Grateful. Right. For a man who thought fatherhood ended with conception.
“And you’re already blessed with two beautiful children,” Brianna continued. “Why wouldn’t you want another?”
She heard our conversation. Nice.
“Because I’m exhausted,” I said flatly. “I’m already doing everything by myself. Why would I want to make my life even harder?”
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
That’s when Amber, Eric’s sister, chimed in, stepping into the kitchen like she owned the place. “Honestly, Katie, you sound a little spoiled. Mom raised both of us without complaining.”
“Right,” I said with a bitter laugh. “And I’m sure she never felt overwhelmed. She just kept quiet because no one would’ve cared if she did.”
Amber’s eyes narrowed. “Well, maybe you need to toughen up. Women have been doing this for centuries. It’s just what we do.”
A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
I turned to Eric. “This is exactly what I’m talking about. You’re so stuck in this outdated mindset where women are expected to handle everything. It’s not fair.”
“Life’s not fair, Katie,” Eric shrugged. “Deal with it.”
I stared at him, feeling like I’d hit a wall. He wasn’t going to change. Neither was his mother or sister.
Later that night, after Brianna and Amber had left, Eric brought up the third child again. This time, his tone was more insistent.
“You’re making a big deal out of nothing,” he said as we got ready for bed. “We’ve got a good life. I take care of you and the kids. We should have another.”
A man standing in his bedroom | Source: Midjourney
I turned to him, finally at my breaking point. “Eric, you don’t take care of me. Or the kids. You barely even know them.”
He just stared at me, his expression blank.
“You’re not the great dad you think you are,” I continued. “And I have zero interest in being a single mom to three kids. Two is hard enough.”
Eric’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
A doorknob | Source: Pexels
I heard his car start, and moments later, he was gone. Off to his mother’s house, no doubt.
The next morning, I was up early, sipping my coffee in silence. The kids were at my sister’s place. I’d called her the night before, knowing I needed someone to lean on.
I didn’t expect Eric to come back right away, but I wasn’t surprised when Brianna and Amber showed up instead.
They didn’t even knock.
A woman standing in her son’s house | Source: Midjourney
“Katie,” Brianna began, stepping into the kitchen. Amber followed, arms crossed and lips pursed. “We need to talk.”
I leaned against the counter, keeping my face calm. “I’m not sure what there is to talk about. Eric and I need to work things out ourselves.”
Amber scoffed. “That’s exactly what we’re here to help with.”
“I don’t need your help,” I said, my voice steady.
But Brianna wasn’t backing down. “Katie, dear, you’ve changed. You’re not the sweet girl my son married.”
An angry older woman | Source: Midjourney
That comment hit me harder than I expected.
For years, I’d been trying to live up to some version of myself they had in their heads. I wasn’t that girl anymore. I was a grown woman with responsibilities they couldn’t even begin to comprehend.
“You’re right,” I said, locking eyes with her. “I’m not that girl anymore. Eric married a teenager. Now, I’m a woman who knows her worth.”
Brianna’s face turned red. “Excuse me?”
A close-up shot of an older woman’s face | Source: Pexels
I crossed my arms. “You heard me. And honestly, if Eric has a problem with how I run my household, he should be here talking to me. Not sending you two to do it for him.”
Amber’s voice was sharp. “That’s not how family works. We support each other.”
“Really? Funny how that support only ever seems to go one way.”
At that, my sister walked in. She took one look at the scene and immediately sensed the tension. “Everything okay here?”
A woman in her sister’s house | Source: Midjourney
Brianna turned on her. “Who are you?”
“Her sister,” she replied with a sweet smile. “And you guys need to calm down. Otherwise, I can call the authorities.
Brianna’s face twisted with rage, and I braced myself for the onslaught of insults. Sure enough, she launched into a tirade about how I was “ruining” her son’s life, how I was a bad wife, and how my kids would grow up hating me.
But I didn’t flinch.
A woman standing in her kitchen, looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
They finally left a few minutes later, slamming the door behind them.
Later that day, Eric came home. I heard his footsteps before I saw him, and I could feel the tension as he stepped into the kitchen.
“So,” he began, his voice cold, “you insulted my mother and sister?”
I folded my arms. “I didn’t insult anyone. I told them they had no right to interfere in our marriage.”
Eric’s expression darkened. “You don’t love me. You don’t love the kids. You’ve changed.”
An upset man in his house | Source: Midjourney
“I haven’t changed, Eric. I’ve grown up. There’s a difference.”
Our argument spiraled, going in circles until he finally exploded.
“Pack your things and leave,” he demanded, pointing to the door. “I can’t live with you anymore.”
I was stunned, but I didn’t argue. I packed my bags and stood at the door, ready to leave. But before I stepped out, I turned to him one last time.
A woman standing in the doorway | Source: Midjourney
“The kids are staying here,” I said. “Whichever parent stays in this house will be responsible for them. They’re not going anywhere.”
“Wait… what?” he asked. “That’s not happening.”
“You heard me,” I said calmly. “You wanted me gone, fine. But the kids stay.”
Then, I walked out with my sister without listening to anything else Eric had to say.
He tried calling me later, but it was too late.
Ultimately, Eric refused to take custody of the kids, and I filed for divorce.
A person signing a paper | Source: Pexels
In the end, I kept the house, got full custody, and received substantial child support payments. I’m glad I stood up for myself before it was too late. Do you think I did the right thing? Or did I go too far?
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Mom with Baby Is Kicked Out of Home by Mother-In-Law, Sees Her Digging through Trash Years Later — Story of the Day
A controlling woman kicks her daughter-in-law out of the house with her newborn child, only to find herself in appalling conditions years later.
Abbie and Jonathan were married for three years when they welcomed their son, Timothy. They lived in Austin, Texas, with Jonathan’s mother, Susan, who wasn’t the worst by all accounts but wasn’t the best either.
Susan’s problem was that she wanted total control over everything, especially Jonathan’s life. To her relief, she was always successful since Jonathan was a “mama’s boy” who never went against her.
However, things began to change when Abbie came into Jonathan’s life. He began to devote a significant percentage of his attention to her, making Susan believe that Abbie was pulling him away from her.
Eventually, Abbie got the impression that Susan despised her, so she advised Jonathan that they move out. But he politely declined, saying, “Oh darling, come on! You know how mom is! She may seem harsh on the outside, but she is soft on the inside. She adores you just as much as she adores me.”
But Abbie knew that wasn’t the case, and her worst fears proved true one day…
Mrs. Norris wasn’t supportive of Abbie and Jonathan’s relationship. | Source: Pexels
“GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE WITH THAT BABY!” Susan yelled at Abbie as she and Jonathan returned from the hospital following Timothy’s birth. She didn’t even go to the hospital for Abbie’s delivery because she despised her. And once Abbie was home, she already had a brilliant plan to get rid of her “pathetic” daughter-in-law.
“Susan, what’s the matter?” Abbie stared at her, bewildered. She didn’t understand why the woman would say something like that to her.
“Good Lord! Susan?” she whispered in disbelief on seeing her mother-in-law in such a terrible condition.
“What’s the matter with me?” she retorted. “That boy is not my son’s blood! He looks nothing like my son!” she lied, screaming at the top of her lungs.
“Susan!” Abbie yelled back, teary-eyed. “How could you say such a thing? He’s your grandson…Jonathan,” she said, turning to her husband. “Why aren’t you saying anything? You know he’s—”
Before Abbie could finish, Susan cut her off. “Stop bewitching my son with those crocodile tears of yours! You’ve already wrecked his life. Pack your things and get lost!” she repeated and grabbed Jonathan’s arm, pulling him to her side.
Mrs. Norris ordered Abbie to leave the house. | Source: Pexels
“Jonathan….” Abbie looked at him with hopeful eyes, but he didn’t utter a word. Instead, he stood by his mother’s side and lowered his head in shame.
Abbie couldn’t believe Jonathan didn’t say anything to his mother, even if it meant losing his son! She realized whatever was happening to her was probably the worst thing she’d ever faced, but she reasoned it was probably for the best if she moved away from the toxicity. So she packed her belongings and left Susan’s home to live with her parents.
Several years went by and Abbie had raised Timothy on her own, giving him the finest of everything. Fortunately, she also healed from the pain of her toxic marriage with Jonathan and took the first step towards divorce and a happy life with her son as a single mother.
A few years after the divorce, she found love again when she crossed paths with a man named Edward at Timothy’s school. He was a widower with a daughter, Caroline. He and Abbie fell in love and got married.
Abbie felt her life was complete after marrying Edward. She had a wonderful family, an excellent job, two beautiful children, and a devoted husband. She never thought about the horrific past again until something unexpected happened one day…
Abbie took a drastic step and became a single mom. | Source: Pexels
After dropping Caroline and Timothy off at school, Abbie was on her way to work when she noticed an elderly woman dumpster diving for food.
“Good Lord!” she sighed as she came to a halt and glanced at the woman. “What misery did she go through to have to eat from a dumpster?”
Abbie reached into her handbag for cash and got out of the car to offer it to the woman. But as she got closer, something about the woman’s filthy clothes made her stop.
She recognized the woman’s coat and immediately came to a halt in the middle of the street until a car blew its horn, interrupting her thoughts. When the homeless woman turned around to face her, Abbie’s suspicions were confirmed.
“Good Lord! Susan?” she whispered in disbelief on seeing her mother-in-law in such a terrible condition. “Susan, what happened to you? What are you doing here?” she asked worriedly as she dashed over to her.
Mrs. Norris was looking through trash for food. | Source: Shutterstock
With tears in her eyes, the older woman stared at her. “Abbie? Forgive me for what I did, sweetheart,” she pleaded, bursting into tears. “Please forgive me! I’m starving! I haven’t eaten in days….” She fell at Abbie’s feet and wouldn’t stop crying.
Abbie never liked Susan, but she wasn’t so heartless that she would leave her like that on the streets. So she took a day off from work and accompanied the older woman to a restaurant.
As Susan finished eating, Abbie gently asked, “Susan, how did you end up like this? Where’s Jonathan?”
“All I can say is I paid for my sins, sweetheart,” she sighed, teary-eyed. “I lost everything I had. My Jonathan is no longer with me. He left me alone, and I was so miserable after that….”
Susan wouldn’t stop crying as she revealed that Jonathan was returning home from work one day when he was attacked and robbed by some hooligans. He tried to fight back, but he eventually succumbed to the injuries and died before reaching the hospital.
Jonathan’s death left Mrs. Norris miserable. | Source: Pexels
After the terrible accident, Susan almost lost her mind. Every night, she would sit for hours on her son’s bed, clutching his things and crying. She didn’t want to do anything or interact with anyone. She eventually gave up on life and began roaming the streets.
“I still have the house, but it’s so empty without him. It comes back to bite me when I go back there. I don’t want to be there. I want to run away from all the bad memories…All the bad things I did to you, oh, I regret them so much. Will you please forgive me? I beg of you!” she pleaded, trembling.
Seeing Susan’s dreadful situation, Abbie knew she had already had her fair share of suffering for her wrongdoings, so softening her heart for the older woman, she decided to let go of the past and forgive her.
“It’s all right, Susan,” she said. “I don’t have anything against you or Jonathan. In fact, I’m happy I went on with my life because I now have a beautiful husband and two wonderful children.”
Susan was surprised. “You remarried?”
Abbie was happy with her married life. | Source: Pexels
“Yes! And I am very happy with my life now,” Abbie replied, smiling.
Susan felt a tinge of jealousy, and she dropped her head in shame. But Abbie forgave her and decided to help her out, so Abbie started visiting her home and helping her around the house once in a while.
She also told Edward everything, and he was very sympathetic and supportive. Leaving the horrific past behind them, they now often invite Susan to their home and spend time with her so that she does not feel alone.
What can we learn from this story?
- One day, everyone pays the price for their wrongdoings. Susan ruined Abbie and Jonathan’s relationship and paid the price for it when she found herself all alone.
- Good things always happen to good people. Though Abbie’s divorce from Jonathan was devastating, it ultimately resulted in a much happier life for her and Timothy.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a mom who asks her old neighbor to babysit her children only to return home and find them missing.
This account is inspired by our reader’s story and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
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