Husband Who Ridiculed His Unemployed Wife Discovers a Heartbreaking Note After She’s Rushed to the Hospital — Story of the Day
An arrogant man constantly belittles his wife for being a poor homemaker, but when karma strikes, he realizes the error of his ways and changes for the better.
When Shannon Miles gave birth to her first child, Claire, she believed she could juggle her work and home responsibilities seamlessly. And for a while, she managed it all like a pro. However, life took a sharp turn when Shannon welcomed twins, Lucas and Justin, into the family.
Raising three children while working full-time quickly became overwhelming. Mistakes were inevitable—burnt breakfast, forgotten chores, or clothes ruined during ironing. Despite her best efforts, Shannon found herself struggling to meet the demands of motherhood and work.
Her husband, Martin, began to lose patience. Frustrated by her perceived inability to manage everything, he insisted Shannon quit her job and focus on being a full-time homemaker. Though hesitant, Shannon ultimately gave in, hoping it would ease tensions at home.
However, her sacrifices didn’t bring her the appreciation she had hoped for. Instead, Martin became more critical and dismissive.
If the dishes weren’t done, it was Shannon’s fault. If the kids’ toys cluttered the living room, it was Shannon’s fault. Dinner too salty? Once again, Shannon’s fault.
“You’re nothing like the woman I fought my mom to marry,” Martin would often sneer, reminding Shannon of their tumultuous courtship when he had chosen her despite his mother’s disapproval.
Shannon swallowed her pain and held on for the sake of her family. She didn’t want her children to grow up in a broken home. But Martin’s constant berating continued, and one day, he crossed the line.
The twins had just celebrated their first birthday, and Shannon was in their room singing a lullaby to put them to sleep. Suddenly, Martin’s angry voice echoed through the house.
“Shannon! Can’t you hear me? Get over here right now!”
Startled, Shannon hurried to the living room, leaving the babies in their cribs. “Martin, what’s wrong with you? The twins were almost asleep, and now they’re crying again!”
“Almost asleep?” Martin mocked her. “Isn’t that your job? You don’t even work anymore, Shannon. The least you could do is get this right.”
“Seriously, Martin? I’ve been running this house single-handedly. Do you think it’s easy taking care of three kids and everything else?”
“Spare me the feminist lecture, Shannon,” Martin shot back. “After you’re done with the kids, make sure the dishes are done. I don’t want to wake up to a filthy kitchen.”
“Martin, I haven’t even had time to eat today,” Shannon said, her voice trembling. “Can’t you help me for once?”
“Help? That’s your responsibility, Shannon. Stop complaining and do your job properly for once.”
Shannon felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Gripping the edge of the table for support, she tried to respond but collapsed before she could finish her sentence.
The crash of a vase breaking brought Martin running. When he saw Shannon on the floor, he frowned. “Shannon, get up! This isn’t funny!”
When she didn’t respond, panic set in. Martin called 911 and rushed to get water, splashing it on her face to no avail. As he waited for the ambulance, he called their neighbor, Mrs. Cameron, to watch the kids.
The paramedics arrived within minutes, and Martin carried Shannon to the ambulance. At the hospital, doctors informed him that she had collapsed due to exhaustion and needed time to recover.
Returning home late that night, Martin went to the kitchen for water. While cleaning up the broken vase, he noticed a note on the floor. Picking it up, he realized it was Shannon’s to-do list:
Shannon’s To-Do List
- 5:00 a.m. Wake up
- 5:30 a.m. Shower and prep Claire’s school bag
- 6:00 a.m. Feed the twins, wake Claire
- 7:00 a.m. Wake Martin (Why can’t he wake himself?)
- 7:30 a.m. Make breakfast
- 8:00 a.m. Claire’s school bus arrives
- 8:15 a.m. Iron Martin’s clothes, pack his lunch
- 9:00 a.m. Clean dishes, tidy Claire’s room
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch
- 1:00 p.m. Claire comes home
- 2:00 p.m. Claire’s tutoring
- 3:00 p.m. Pick up Claire
- 4:00 p.m. Bake cookies for Claire
- 5:00 p.m. Start dinner prep
- 6:00 p.m. Put twins to bed before Martin comes home
- 7:00 p.m. Dinner
- 8:00 p.m. Clean dishes
- 9:00 p.m. Laundry, prep for tomorrow
- 10:00 p.m. Read a book (If not dead tired!)
Martin’s heart sank as he read the list. Shannon wasn’t free for a single moment. She was always on her feet, doing her best for their family.
The next morning, Martin tried to follow Shannon’s schedule himself. He woke up late, burned the toast, and by lunchtime, he was already overwhelmed. His attempt to cook dinner ended with a flavorless, unappetizing soup.
That day, Martin understood how much effort Shannon put into their family. He realized how unfair he had been to her.
When Martin visited Shannon in the hospital, he brought her favorite flowers and apologized.
“I’m so sorry, babe,” he said, holding her hand. “I didn’t realize how much you do for us. I should’ve been helping you, not criticizing you.”
Shannon was taken aback by Martin’s words but appreciated the gesture. “It’s okay, Martin. I just want us to be a team.”
From that day forward, Martin became a changed man. He hired a nanny to help Shannon with the kids and took on more responsibilities at home. He finally understood that being a homemaker was not an easy job—and vowed never to take his wife for granted again.
Lessons from the Story:
- Walk in someone’s shoes before judging them. Martin only realized Shannon’s struggles after attempting her daily tasks.
- Respect everyone’s contributions. Whether at home or work, every effort deserves recognition and appreciation.
- Teamwork is the foundation of a strong marriage. Supporting each other is key to a happy and balanced family life.
