When we had our first child, my husband Jake’s behavior pushed me to the brink. Despite promises of shared parenting, Jake often dismissed my pleas for help, saying, “Let me relax; my paternity leave is so short.” Exhausted, I struggled alone.

To celebrate our daughter’s one-month birthday, we hosted a party. Jake boasted, “I needed this paternity leave because I couldn’t imagine how much more exhausted I would have been working AND taking care of the baby.” His words hurt, but I stayed silent. Overwhelmed, I fainted from exhaustion during the party.

Jake later exploded, accusing me of embarrassing him: “Everyone thinks I’m not taking care of you!” I was ready to leave. Then, my in-laws arrived with a professional nanny to help and a spa retreat for me. My father-in-law insisted, “You’re going on a spa retreat for a week. Rest, heal, and rejuvenate. You need it.”

At the retreat, I recovered while Jake learned to care for our baby. He sold his vintage guitars to repay his parents, saying, “It’s time I focus on what’s truly important.” This intervention saved our marriage and taught us the importance of teamwork and support.