When I got sick, I saw a side of my husband I never expected. Instead of stepping up as a father and husband, he chose to abandon me and our baby. But I turned the tables and showed him exactly what it felt like to be left behind.
I’m 30, married to Drew, 33, and we have a six-month-old baby girl named Sadie—she’s our little sunshine. But to my surprise, when I got sick, Drew’s response wasn’t to help me. It was to leave.
This whole mess started about a month ago when I came down with a nasty virus. No, it wasn’t COVID-19 or RSV, but it sure knocked me out. I was dealing with body aches, chills, and a cough that left my ribs sore. And just before I got sick, Sadie had been getting over a cold herself, which meant I was already wiped out.
At this point, I was exhausted and struggling to care for Sadie, who was still clingy and recovering from her own illness. But Drew? He was acting distant, spending all his time on his phone, and getting short with me about small things like dishes in the sink or forgetting to defrost dinner.
One night, as I rocked Sadie and tried to quiet my cough, Drew said, “You always look so tired.” Of course, I was tired—raising a baby is hard! But I thought, surely, once I got sick, he’d step up. Unfortunately, I was wrong.
The night my fever spiked to 102.4°F, I was barely able to sit up. With all the energy I had left, I asked Drew to take Sadie so I could lie down for a bit. His response? “Your cough is keeping me up. I need sleep. I’m going to stay at my mom’s for a few nights.”
I thought he was joking, but nope. He packed a bag, kissed Sadie, and walked out. He didn’t ask if I needed help, or how Sadie would be cared for. I sat there in disbelief, holding a crying baby and trying to comfort her while I was barely functioning.
I texted him, “You’re really leaving me here sick and alone with the baby?” His response? “You’re the mom. You know how to handle this stuff better than me. I’d just get in the way. Plus, I’m exhausted and your cough is unbearable.”
I couldn’t believe it. This was the man who had promised to be my partner, and he thought my cough was more of an issue than our baby’s well-being.
I somehow managed to make it through the weekend. I barely ate, cried in the shower, and kept Sadie alive with Tylenol and sheer willpower. The whole time, Drew didn’t check in once.
But here’s the thing: I wasn’t going to let him off easy. I decided to show him exactly how it felt to be abandoned when you’re sick and alone. So when I started feeling better, I hatched a plan.
A week later, I texted Drew: “Hey, I’m feeling much better now. You can come home.”
His reply? “Thank God! I haven’t slept in days. Mom’s dog snores and she keeps asking me to help with yard work.”
Poor Drew. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
Before he came home, I cleaned, prepped everything for Sadie, and made Drew’s favorite dinner. When he walked in, he looked around, happy to be back to normal. He didn’t say a word about the week I had just gone through. He ate his meal, burped, and plopped on the couch.
A few minutes later, I dropped my bombshell.
“Hey, can you hold Sadie for a second? I need to grab something upstairs,” I said casually.
He sighed, rolled his eyes, and agreed. I came downstairs a few minutes later with my suitcase and car keys.
“What’s that?” he asked, confused.
“I booked a weekend spa retreat,” I said, smiling sweetly. “I just need some rest. You’ll be fine with Sadie.”
“Wait, you’re leaving now?” he stammered.
“Yep. Just two nights. I left instructions—bottles are labeled, diapers stocked, emergency numbers on the fridge. You got this. You’re the dad, remember?”
He looked stunned. “Claire, I don’t know what to do…”
I raised a hand. “No, no. Your words last week? ‘You’re the mom. You know how to handle this better than me.’ Well, now it’s your turn.”
I grabbed my bag and walked out. No slamming doors, no tears. I drove 45 minutes to a spa, where I enjoyed massages, naps, and trashy reality TV. Pure bliss!
Drew called twice, both times leaving frantic voicemails, but I didn’t respond. I wanted him to feel what it was like to be on his own. On Saturday, I FaceTimed him briefly to check in on Sadie. When Drew saw me on the screen, he looked completely frazzled.
“Claire, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how hard this is!” he said, sounding like a man who’d aged 10 years in two days.
“Good,” I replied. “I’m glad you get it now.”
When I got home on Sunday evening, the house looked like a disaster. Toys everywhere. Dirty bottles. Drew, still in the same shirt from the day before, looked like he hadn’t slept. He was exhausted, and Sadie—though fine—was a little clingy after a weekend with her overwhelmed dad.
I didn’t say much, but I handed Drew a piece of paper. He looked terrified, probably thinking it was divorce papers.
But no, it was a list of duties—morning feedings, nighttime diaper changes, grocery runs, and baths. His name was next to half of them.
“You don’t get to tap out anymore,” I told him. “I need a partner, not another child.”
He nodded. “Okay. I get it.”
To his credit, Drew has been trying since then. He wakes up with Sadie at night, makes bottles, and even changed her diaper without gagging! I’m not rushing to forgive him, but at least he knows now: I’m not the kind of woman you abandon when things get tough.
And trust me, I’m the woman who makes sure you never forget it.
Sophia Reynolds is a dedicated journalist and a key contributor to Storyoftheday24.com. With a passion for uncovering compelling stories, Sophia Reynolds delivers insightful, well-researched news across various categories. Known for breaking down complex topics into engaging and accessible content, Sophia Reynolds has built a reputation for accuracy and reliability. With years of experience in the media industry, Sophia Reynolds remains committed to providing readers with timely and trustworthy news, making them a respected voice in modern journalism.
