Welcoming a new baby into the family is a joyful time. There’s lots of excitement and getting ready for the baby. But having a child also changes how parents relate to each other. It’s not just about looking after the baby; it’s about seeing how well partners support each other.
The couple have been together for 10 years.
Camila wrote us a heartfelt letter, sharing her concerns about her son. She said, “I’ve always appreciated your platform because it’s a space where people can speak openly. Now, I need some advice about my son’s situation.”
She began her story, explaining how her son, Michael, used to be very determined and ambitious. He married Lisa in college, and they both had successful careers. However, things changed after their baby was born six months ago. Lisa decided to quit her job to take care of the baby, and this caused tension between them.
Michael started criticizing Lisa for small things like the house not being clean or dinner not being ready on time. He didn’t understand how much work Lisa was doing with the baby and around the house. He stopped helping with chores, saying it was Lisa’s job now that she wasn’t working.
Eventually, they decided to divorce, and Michael moved in with Camila. She felt sad watching everything unfold and realized it was time for Michael to learn a lesson about respect and empathy.
She taught him a lesson he will never forget.
Camila came up with a plan. “I decided to surprise my daughter-in-law with a gift and sent her on a short vacation for a week, promising to take care of my granddaughter while she was away.
During dinner, I told my son that Lisa was going away for a week and handed him a piece of paper with a list of tasks. It was a schedule of everything Lisa used to do in a single day: wake up early, make breakfast, take care of the baby, clean the house, go grocery shopping, do laundry, cook, and more. Michael looked at the list, his face changing as he realized what it meant.
‘I want you to take care of the baby and manage the house for one week, just like Lisa did,’ I said calmly. ‘No help from the nanny or the housekeeper. I’ll take care of my grandchild if it becomes too much, but you need to understand what she did every day.'”
Reluctantly, Michael agreed. The first day was a disaster. He overslept, struggled with the baby, burned breakfast, and by noon, the house was a mess. By the third day, he was exhausted. He couldn’t keep up with the baby, the laundry, and the constant chores.
At the end of the week, Michael was a changed man. He sat down with me, tears in his eyes. ‘Mom, I had no idea,’ he admitted. ‘I thought she was being lazy, but she was working harder than I ever realized. I took her for granted, and now I’ve lost her.’
I hugged my son, feeling proud and sad. ‘It’s not too late to make things right, Michael. You need to apologize and show her you understand. Show her that you’ve changed.'”
