At first, it didn’t seem like a big deal—her husband only showering on weekends. They had different schedules, and he always looked clean. But once she started working from home, she noticed the truth: he wasn’t showering during the workweek at all.
She let it go, until he switched to a labor-intensive job. He came home sweaty, skipped the shower, and changed clothes. She was pregnant by then, and the smell became overwhelming. She gently asked him to shower more—for her comfort and the baby’s safety. He agreed. Things improved.
But after the baby was born, he slid back into old habits: sweaty, greasy, still no shower, holding their newborn. It made her sick with worry. One night, in frustration, she called him “gross” and “disgusting.” He denied ever agreeing to change. She was heartbroken.
Later, he admitted he’d been using rubbing alcohol instead of showering—thinking it was a compromise. When she asked why he avoided showers, he said, “I don’t want to wash off my manliness.”
Now, she’s firm: three showers a week, minimum. But he still resists, calling it exhaustion. The final straw? Dirt and flakes on his shirt. “This is a health issue,” she said.
Still, he dismissed her.