At seven months pregnant, I was exhausted—physically, emotionally, and mentally. But when I told my husband, Doug, that I was considering early maternity leave due to my struggles, he scoffed. “You’re being dramatic,” he said, claiming women balance pregnancy and work all the time. Worse, he accused me of being lazy.
Instead of arguing, I devised a plan. For a week, I became “Superwoman,” handling every chore while still working. Doug thought I had endless energy—until I gave him a surprise “Dad Simulation Day.” With the help of a no-nonsense doula and a friend’s screaming twins, Doug spent eight hours drowning in diapers, chaos, and exhaustion. By the end, he looked haunted.
That night, I handed him a scrapbook of my struggles, things he never noticed. Seeing it broke him. He finally understood. He apologized—to me and even to his mother, only to learn she hadn’t worked until birth like he believed!
Since then, Doug has been a changed man—attentive, supportive, and humbled. Sometimes, the best way to teach a lesson isn’t through words but by letting someone walk in your shoes… poop, puke, and all!
