My Mom Discovered My Wife Was Treating Me as a Housekeeper Because I Work Remotely and Made Her Rethink Her Actions
“Don’t worry, son. I’ve got this,” she said, her tone softening for me. “You’re going to that spa, and Ruby’s going to see what it’s like to handle everything herself for a change.”
Ruby stammered, “But… I didn’t realize…”
Mom didn’t let her finish. “Well, now you will. Have fun with the kids, Ruby. It’s about time you spent some quality time with them.”
With that, the call ended. I stood there, phone in hand, a mixture of relief and disbelief swirling inside me. For the first time in years, I felt truly seen. I wasn’t just the invisible helper in the background anymore—Mom understood. She was standing up for me.
The spa weekend was everything I needed and more. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t thinking about cleaning, cooking, or whether the kids needed a snack. I wasn’t worrying about balancing my job and household duties. I was just… me.
As I sat in the hot tub, surrounded by peaceful silence, I realized just how tired I had been.
“I didn’t realize how much weight I was carrying until I felt it lifted,” I muttered to myself, sinking deeper into the warm water. The tension in my shoulders and back started to melt away, and for the first time in years, I felt at peace.
Meanwhile, back at home, Ruby was getting a taste of what I’d been dealing with. From the moment she woke up, the kids were her responsibility. Breakfast, school drop-offs, laundry, cleaning—it was all on her shoulders now.
When I returned home Saturday evening, Ruby was waiting for me at the door. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and there were dark circles under her eyes. She rushed to me, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I didn’t realize how much you were handling until I did it all myself. It was so overwhelming.”
I held her for a moment, feeling the weight of her words. “It’s okay,” I said softly. “But we need to do this together. I can’t keep doing everything.”
She nodded, pulling back to look me in the eyes. “I know. I’ve already spoken to my boss about reducing my hours. I need to be more present here, with you and the boys. I don’t want to lose our family.”
Her words were like a balm to my tired soul. For the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful. Maybe things could change. Maybe we could find a better balance.
“I’m glad,” I said, smiling. “We’ll figure it out.”
Over the next few weeks, things began to shift. Ruby followed through on her promise. She cut back her hours at work and started pitching in more at home.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was better. I felt like we were a team again, working together instead of living separate lives under the same roof.
Now, I felt stronger—both in my marriage and in myself. I learned that it was okay to ask for help, to demand balance and respect. Ruby and I were both working on it, and for the first time in years, I felt like we were on the same page.
