Welcoming a new baby into the family is an exciting and joyful time, filled with anticipation and big changes. But beyond the baby showers and decorating the nursery, parenthood also puts a relationship to the test. It’s not just about caring for the baby—it’s about how well partners support each other through the challenges that come with it.
The couple have been together for 10 years.
Camila reached out to us with a heartfelt message, saying, "Hey, Bright Side! I've always enjoyed your platform because it's a place where people can openly share their thoughts. I've participated in discussions on your page before, offering advice and sharing my opinions on various stories. Now, I could really use some input from your audience about a situation involving my son."
She began her story by saying, "My son, Michael, has always been a determined person. As a child, he had a strong drive and ambition in everything he did, whether it was schoolwork or sports. I admired this trait and always encouraged it."
"But as he got older, his determination started to show a tougher side, which made me a little concerned. Michael married Lisa while they were in college. She was just as ambitious and smart as he was, so they quickly connected over their shared interests and similar personalities. Following finishing school, they both established excellent careers and enjoyed a usually pleasant relationship."
Her son's behavior changed completely after the baby was born.
Camila continues, “Six months ago, they had ababy and myson stopped helping athome, saying Lisa should doeverything, asshe wasn’t working. After the divorce heended uponmycouch. SoIknewI had toteach him alesson hewouldn’t forget.”
“Michael had started criticizing Lisa for the smallest things and their marriage was falling apart. All hesaw was what hethought was laziness. The house was not clean enough. Dinner wasn’t ready ontime. He’d get home and find her napping orwatchingTV, which made him irritated. Hedidn’t notice the sleepless nights, the continual care the baby required, orthe chores she completed during the day. ”
“Myson stopped helping around the house, saying that since Lisa wasn’t working, she had plenty oftime todoeverything, and hewas too exhausted from his job topitchin. When things between them became unbearable, they decided todivorce.”
"After the split, Michael moved inwithme. Itbroke myheart tosee all ofthis unfold. Ihad always taught him about respect and empathy, but somehow, heseemed tohave forgotten those lessons.
She gave her son a lesson he’ll never forget.
Camila came upwith aplan. “Idecided tosurprise mydaughter-in-law with agift and send her onaweek-long trip, offering tocare for mygranddaughter while she was away.”
“Atdinner, Itold myson that Lisa would beaway for the week and handed him apiece ofpaper with ato-do list onit. Itwas aschedule ofeverything Lisa used todoinasingle day: waking upat6AM, making breakfast, cleaning the house, getting the baby ready, laundry, doing grocery shopping, cooking, and all the other duties she handled. Michael looked atthe list, his face slowly shifting from confusion tounderstanding.”
“Iwant you totake care ofthe baby and manage the house for one week, just like Lisa did,” Isaid calmly. “Nohelp from the nanny orthe housekeeper. I’ll handle mygranddaughter ifitgets too overwhelming, but you need tosee what she did every day.”
Within just a few days, the house was in complete chaos.
Camila goes on to say, "Michael reluctantly accepted. The first day went horribly wrong. The house was a disaster by midday after he burned breakfast, overslept, and struggled to get the baby ready. He was extremely tired by the third day. He was unable to keep up with the demands of the family, the baby, and the never-ending washing."
"By the end of the week, Michael was a different person. He sat down with me, his eyes filled with tears. 'Mom, I had no idea,' he admitted. 'I assumed she was simply being lazy, but she was doing far more than I ever realized. I took her for granted, and now I'm without her.'
"I hugged my son, feeling both proud and heartbroken. "It's not too late to fix things, Michael. You need to apologize and show her that you get it now. Show her that you've changed."
This story has a happy ending after all.
Wrapping up her letter, Camila writes, "Michael took my advice seriously. He contacted Lisa, apologized from the heart, and admitted his mistakes. It wasn’t easy, and it took some time, but eventually, Lisa recognized how sincere he was. They decided to give their relationship another shot for the sake of their daughter."
"Michael learned a lesson he’ll never forget. At least, I hope so. What would you do if you were in my shoes? Or maybe some of your audience has gone through something similar and could offer advice to help save their relationship?"
"I never force my son to say SORRY and THANK YOU — it could psychologically traumatize him," another reader shared with Bright Side, offering insight into her unique approach to parenting and seeking advice from fellow parents. She often faces criticism for her methods and is curious if others have had similar experiences.
