Jake and I have always been a team. Whenever a decision needed making, we tackled it together, believing this unity was our strength. That was until I discovered my husband mocking me in front of his friends and even on social media.
Our daughter, Lily, was born with autism, requiring a level of care and attention beyond what her kindergarten could provide. Together, Jake and I decided it would be best for me to leave my high-paying marketing job to stay at home with her.
Becoming a stay-at-home mother was daunting. I cherished my career, but Lily’s needs came first.
Initially, adapting to this new lifestyle was challenging, but gradually, I found joy in baking, cooking, and managing the household.
Jake appeared grateful for the choice I made for Lily—or so I believed.
One afternoon, while tidying his home office, I noticed his computer was on, displaying his open Twitter feed. A hashtag caught my eye: “#tradwife.”
Scrolling through, I stumbled upon photos of me pulling cookies from the oven, baking, and more.
To my disbelief, I saw my husband portraying me online as a joyful, traditional homemaker who had willingly swapped her career for the kitchen, omitting any mention of Lily’s needs.
There were so many pictures of me, apron-clad each time I scrolled further. Not once did Jake mention why I truly became a stay-at-home mom.
A sensation of betrayal washed over me, simmering into anger.
I took numerous screenshots of Jake’s hurtful posts and confronted him.
“Why reduce me to a stereotype just to gain some strangers’ likes and laughs, Jake?” I queried, my heart aching.
Defensively, he brushed it off as mere frivolity, claiming he meant no harm, insisting his online antics weren’t serious.
“Jake, you’ve disrespected the sacrifices I’m making for our family. A simple ‘sorry’ is inadequate,” I exclaimed, deeply hurt and humiliated.
He proceeded to delete his Twitter account on his phone, but the damage had been cemented.
To ensure everyone knew what he truly thought of my efforts, I posted his screenshots to my Facebook, captioning it with, “Ever found out your husband mocks you behind your back to his friends?”
Friends and family reached out, calling and messaging to check on me.
Now, it was Jake who found himself embarrassed by his treatment of me.
He pleaded for forgiveness, though for me, it wasn’t that simple.
Rebuilding my trust in him was a lengthy process.
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