When my husband, Eric, suggested having a third child, I reached my breaking point. We already had two kids—Lily, 10, and Brandon, 5—and I was overwhelmed. I was raising them practically alone while juggling housework and a part-time job. Eric, on the other hand, felt his only responsibility was to “provide” financially, leaving everything else to me. I handled it all—cooking, cleaning, school runs, bedtime routines—and though I loved my kids, I was exhausted,
The frustration built up, but I kept quiet until one day, my best friend invited me out for coffee. When I asked Eric to watch the kids for an hour, he refused, claiming he was tired from working all week and telling me I should just take them with me. When I pressed for a break, Eric smugly claimed moms don’t need breaks. That’s when I lost it. I reminded him that his mom and sister probably felt the same way I did, but no one ever listened to them. Eric dismissed my feelings, insisting that providing financially was enough.
A few days later, Eric casually suggested having another child. At first, I thought he was joking, but when he kept bringing it up, I realized he was serious. I couldn’t believe it. With everything already on my plate, the idea of adding another child seemed impossible. I told him bluntly that I was the one doing all the work, and he didn’t help enough. Eric responded defensively, saying his role was to provide for us, and he didn’t see what more was needed.Soon, Eric’s mother, Brianna, and his sister, Amber, came over and took his side. They criticized me for not appreciating what Eric did, claiming I was spoiled for wanting a break. Brianna even suggested I should be grateful for everything Eric did. I argued that being a parent was more than just financial support—it was about being involved with the kids, emotionally and physically, which Eric wasn’t.
After that, the tension escalated. Later that night, after more back-and-forth, Eric insisted on having another child again, and I finally snapped. I told him he wasn’t a good father or partner and that I had no interest in being a single mom to three kids. The next morning, Eric left, likely to his mother’s house. I reached out to my sister for support, and when Brianna and Amber showed up to “help” Eric, I stood my ground. They tried to convince me to go back to being the wife they thought I should be, but I made it clear that I had changed—I wasn’t that girl anymore. I was a woman who knew my worth.When Eric came home, our argument reached its peak. He demanded I leave, so I packed my things, but I made it clear that the kids were staying. Eric refused custody, and I filed for divorce. In the end, I got full custody, kept the house, and received child support. It was a painful but necessary decision. Looking back, I’m proud I stood up for myself. Did I do the right thing, or did I go too far?