My Mother Found Out My Wife Had Been Treating Me like a Housekeeper Since I Work from Home and Made Her Regret It

The boys eventually started kindergarten, and I thought, “Finally, I’ll get a break.” But Ruby still saw me as the person responsible for everything at home. It didn’t matter that I also worked full-time.

One night, I brought it up.

“Ruby,” I said, sitting next to her after the kids had gone to bed. “I think we need to divide the chores a bit better. I’m working too, and I can’t do everything by myself.”

She looked up from her phone, frowning slightly. “But you’re home all day,” she said. “You have time to do these things.”

I felt a sharp sting of frustration. “I’m working, too,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “It’s not just about being at home. I need some help.”

Ruby sighed, rubbing her temples. “I’m exhausted when I get home. My job takes everything out of me. Can’t you just keep managing it for now?”

I didn’t argue. I let it go. But inside, I was fuming. How could she not see that I was also exhausted? I didn’t want to live in a messy house, so I kept up with the chores, but it was wearing me down.

It wasn’t just the housework. I missed my friends. I hadn’t gone out in months. If I wasn’t working, I was either cleaning or caring for the kids. My life was shrinking, and Ruby didn’t seem to notice.

The breaking point came when my mom unexpectedly dropped by one afternoon. She never visited during the week, but she had made lasagna and thought I might like some.