My story ended well thanks to the support of my in-laws, but that’s not always the case. The new mom in the following story tried to teach her husband a lesson when he failed as a parent, but just like my partner, he took it personally.

My husband wouldn’t watch our newborn to let me shower, so I came up with a plan to teach him a lesson

Oh, how I relate to this story of early parenthood and the quest for a moment of peace! These past two weeks have been a whirlwind since the arrival of my youngest. She is adorable, she really is, but as a strictly breastfeeding mom, I have barely had a moment to myself!

The other day I managed to take a quick shower – my first solo attempt since she arrived – and guess what? It lasted three minutes before my husband dragged our crying daughter into the bathroom.

I love that he wants to help me, but it seems like his solution is always to give it back to me. Meanwhile, his life seemed unchanged. He enjoys his long, uninterrupted showers, and I can’t help but feel a twinge of envy and frustration.

Tired of quick, stressful showers, I decided it was time to take real care of myself. So I called in the big guns: my mother. I didn’t tell my husband until after he arrived, and let’s just say he wasn’t thrilled! He felt disrespected, wondering why I felt the need to call him just for a shower.