Postpartum wife exhausted from caring for baby while battling flu was speechless when husband said he needed a solo vacation to recover from burnout
'He regrets everything except his daughter (though maybe her too),'
Parenting is not like any other job because you don't always get to clock out at the end of the day. A new mom (u/Accomplished_Sir1939) who had just resigned from her job experienced just that when her husband left for a solo vacation. In her post on October 22, 2026, she explained that her husband took a vacation to relax, leaving her with their seven-month-old baby alone. The woman always believed she would have her partner supporting her through sickness and in health, but surprisingly, he had his own complaints. The post was shared on October 22, and it received 1,400 upvotes and 884 comments.
my husband’s burnt out and wants to take a holiday alone
by u/Accomplished_Sir1939 in GirlDinnerDiaries
In sickness & health...really?
The author did not want to complain too much, even though she left her job to care for her daughter and sick parent. She was still earning a passive income and had a nanny to help her with the baby. Two weeks ago, she and her daughter caught the flu. The physical exhaustion soon took a toll on her mental health, as she had to handle her baby in her husband's absence. While the new mom expected her husband to step in to help, he decided to take a holiday alone. "My husband decided recently that he’s burnt out. He wants to take a holiday. He regrets everything except his daughter (though maybe her too)," she explained.
The woman revealed that the idea for a solo holiday trip came from his one-time therapy session. However, she clarified that he was not cheating on her because he doesn't even leave the house that often. His desire to take a trip alone felt insensitive because she was still dealing with postpartum, her sickness, and parenting and caretaker responsibilities. "Sometimes, I wish he’d leave the home so I have room to just be," the mom added.
Me-time vs. parenting
A survey by NORC for New America's New Practice Lab found that 72% of parents want to spend quality time with their children, but at the same time, 63% of parents want some "personal time." The author's husband was burned out and wanted a solo trip, but he couldn't see his wife's exhaustion from juggling their baby and her illness. On that note, a 2022 Pew Research Center survey found that 47% of mothers complained about being tired most of the time compared to 34% of fathers. Additionally, 33% of mothers found parenting more stressful compared to 24% of fathers. This seemed to be true in the author's case.
'He’s going through a midlife crisis'
Netizens had some mixed opinions and advice in the comment section. A few were also projecting their own experiences onto the author's case. u/user83726910 commented, "He sounds like he’s going through a midlife crisis. It happens. However, if he isn’t showing up as a father or a husband, he needs to know that and work toward unifying again, probably with a couples therapist." u/Plane_Practice8184 wrote, "Amazing how male partners think their discomfort is more important than their partners who are doing all the work. Even their flu/ illnesses are exaggerated. Their hunger is even more important/ urgent. My ex was exactly like this."
More on Scoop Upworthy
Wife swears her husband’s postpartum care routine is next level, and men everywhere are taking notes
Share on Facebook
