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My Son and Unemployed Husband Act like I Don’t Exist – Have I Taught Them the Right Lesson?

Regina felt ghosted by her son and jobless husband, who played video games all day. While she worked hard to support the family, they enjoyed themselves at home. Regina devised a daring plan to teach them a lesson but was left wondering if her bold move was a mistake and the start of something new.

Alright everyone, especially ladies, gather around and let me tell you a story you’ll probably recognize way too well…

An upset woman lost in deep thought | Source: Pexels

We, the dedicated wives and mothers, holding down the fort while our better halves… well, let’s just say they’re not exactly picture-perfect “househusbands.”

My name’s Regina, and my world revolves around my husband, Patrick, and our son, Milo. But lately, it felt like an earthquake had hit this tiny world of mine.

Patrick lost his job a while back. We agreed I’d be the breadwinner while he focused on finding something new and taking care of things at home.

Father and son holding hands | Source: Pexels

You know, the whole “stay-at-home dad” thing? Except he wasn’t exactly JUST staying at home, he and my son were having FUN.

Every night, I’d come home from a long, backbreaking shift to find my husband and son glued to the couch, mountains of chips and soda cans surrounding them, completely oblivious to my arrival. The kicker? The kitchen would be as empty as my stomach.

An untidy kitchen | Source: Unsplash

“Hey, honey,” I’d try, my voice strained, “there’s no dinner? You promised…” Patrick wouldn’t even look up from the game.

“Ah, sorry about that, darling. Busy! Let’s order takeout?” he’d simply shrug.

That dismissive tone, that casualness about my needs, ugh, it would gnaw at me. I’d just swallow it down, head to the kitchen, and there they’d be, yelling and laughing over their video games, a picture of carefree happiness.

Man holding a game console | Source: Pexels

This became the routine. Night after night, the same scene greeted me. I was tired, INVISIBLE, and frankly, getting resentful. Whenever I asked Patrick about his job search, it was always the same.

“Oh, I sent out a few resumes. Should hear back any day now.” Except “any day now” turned into weeks, then months. One evening, the dam holding back my frustration burst.

There they were again, lost in their video game world, oblivious to the real world around them.

Dad and son playing video game | Source: Pexels

Their laughter grated on my nerves. I couldn’t take it anymore. “Look,” I said, my voice tight with anger, “to Milo, you’re a hero, sure. But to me, you’re just…unemployed. And guess what? His grades are slipping faster than his morals thanks to all this video game time!”

Patrick finally tore his gaze away from the screen, but it wasn’t the reaction I expected. He just shrugged. “He’ll catch up. Besides, I promised him we’d beat this level together.”

A frustrated man with his son | Source: Pexels

That’s it. My husband, the supposed grown-up, was more interested in video games than his son’s education, or for that matter, his wife’s well-being. I knew I had to do something drastic.

The inconsideration stung. Here I was, the sole breadwinner, putting food on the table and keeping a roof over our heads, and they treated me like the wallpaper. It was time to shake things up.

An idea, audacious and a little risky, sparked in my mind.

An annoyed woman looking outside | Source: Pexels

Waiting until they were fast asleep, I tiptoed around the house, my movements like a ninja on a mission. Cash, credit cards – the whole shebang ended up in my purse. Leaving one withering look at my seemingly oblivious husband and son, I grabbed my purse and stole out into the night.

Woman holding money | Source: Pexels

Where was I headed? To my friend’s house in the next city. I needed some space, some time to see how Patrick and Milo would handle things without their main source of income… and maybe, just maybe, their invisible superhero of a wife and mom.

The city lights blurred as I pulled into my friend’s driveway, exhaustion finally settling in. I crashed for a few hours, only to be jolted awake by a single, jarring notification – a missed call. From Patrick.

A woman driving a car | Source: Unsplash

My heart hammered in my chest. Had they realized I was GONE? With all the money and credit cards? I called him back, my voice tight. “Hey, Regina,” he answered, his voice laced with… confusion?

“Where are you? Everything alright?”

“Alright?” I almost scoffed. “I had a last-minute business trip,” I said, my voice clipped. There was a beat of silence, then a nonchalant, “Okay, bye!” He was about to hang up before I could add anything else.

A man on a phone call | Source: Pexels

Hold on a minute. No frantic pleas for me to come back? No desperate questions about the missing money and credit cards? A strange sense of unease settled in my stomach. Had they not even noticed they were missing their financial lifeline… or me?

“Oh, honey, there’s no food at home. The fridge is empty. And I’m so sorry, babe, I ‘accidentally’ took the credit cards,” I sarcastically told Patrick.

A nearly empty fridge | Source: Pexels

I’d expected panic, maybe even a desperate attempt to smooth things over. Instead, just a “No problem!” That’s it. He hung up.

What was going on? Maybe my plan had backfired spectacularly. Maybe they didn’t care about me being gone at all. Dread gnawed at me. I had to get back, and fast.

The phone call with Patrick echoed in my head as I bolted to my car.

A man holding a smartphone | Source: Pexels

Disbelief, a sliver of hope, and a cold dread had me reaching for my car keys with trembling hands. I needed to get back, to see what alternate reality Patrick and Milo were living in where an empty fridge and a missing wife were met with a nonchalant “Okay, bye!”

The drive back felt like an eternity. Every missed turn, every red light, stretched the journey into an agonizing test of my patience. Finally, pulling into our driveway, I braced myself for the unknown.

A worried woman driving her car | Source: Unsplash

The house was eerily quiet, an unsettling stillness hanging in the air. Creeping inside, I called out, “Patrick? Milo?” Silence. The living room was pristine. No discarded chip bags or soda cans in sight. A strange sense of unease prickled my skin.

“Honey, I’m home!” I called again, my voice echoing hollowly.

My jaw dropped. This couldn’t be real. “What’s going on here? Where are they?” I gasped.

An empty living room | Source: Unsplash

My calls to Patrick went straight to voicemail, and the neighborhood came up empty. Just when I was about to call the police (feeling like a total drama queen), the front door swung open.

In they walked, like conquering heroes returning from a glorious battle. Patrick, a goofy grin plastered on his face, and Milo, bouncing on his toes, holding a basket overflowing with… FISH???

A basket of fish | Source: Unsplash

“Mom! Dad taught me how to fish so I can find food when I don’t have any money!” Milo declared, his voice bursting with excitement. He thrust the basket at me, the fishy smell hitting me like a wave.

Defeat washed over me. My whole “independence experiment” had backfired miserably. Instead of a lesson learned, they’d bonded over some impromptu fishing trip. Maybe a little too successfully. Patrick, oblivious to my internal meltdown, ruffled Milo’s hair.

A boy fishing | Source: Pexels

“We even got enough for a fish fry, right champ?” He winked at Milo, then turned to me, his grin faltering slightly. “Hey, Reg. How was your business trip?”

Shame burned in my cheeks. I couldn’t keep this charade going any longer. Taking a deep breath, I blurted it all out.

A woman on the brink of tears | Source: Pexels

“There was no business trip! I… I just needed some space, to see how you guys would handle things without me and my money.” My voice cracked, and tears welled up in my eyes. “And look at you two, laughing and playing together. Meanwhile, I felt like a ghost in my own house!”

A teary-eyed woman looking up | Source: Pexels

The smile vanished from Patrick’s face, replaced by a look of concern. “Reggie…” He started to say something, but I cut him off.

“No, let me finish,” I sniffled. “I was so focused on being the breadwinner. I shut myself out, and you guys… you were SO HAPPY together. You acted as if I didn’t EXIST!”

An extremely sad woman | Source: Pexels

Patrick’s goofy grin was long gone, replaced by a thoughtful frown. He set the fish basket down with a soft thump and walked towards me, his steps hesitant.

“Reggie,” he began, his voice gentle, “we don’t need the money you make. It’s great, don’t get me wrong, but…” He paused, searching my eyes. “We just need you. Here. With us.”

A man comforting his partner | Source: Pexels

His words hit me like a ton of bricks. Here, with them. That’s all they wanted? The guilt gnawed at me. All this time, I’d been feeling unappreciated, invisible, when all they craved was my presence?

Tears welled up in my eyes again, blurring my vision. “But the bills, the groceries…” I stammered.

A sad woman looking at someone | Source: Pexels

Patrick reached out, his hand cupping my cheek. “We’ll figure it out,” he said, his thumb gently wiping away a stray tear. “Maybe I can find a part-time job while I look for something better. And who knows, maybe Milo’s got a future as a fisherman!” He winked at our son, who was watching the exchange with wide eyes.

Then he said, “Money is only for survival… It can’t buy love!”

A suitcase of money | Source: Pexels

A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. “You’re right,” I whispered. “Money can’t buy love. And I missed you guys… more than I can say.”

Patrick pulled me into a tight hug, and for the first time in a long time, I felt truly seen, truly valued. We stood there for a moment, a silent apology hanging in the air. Then, Milo piped up, breaking the emotional spell.

“So, are we still having that fish fry, or what?” he asked, grabbing his console.

A boy holding a game console | Source: Pexels

Patrick chuckled, pulling back from the hug. “Alright, champ. Let’s get cleaning. But first things first…” He turned to me, his gaze filled with a newfound determination. “We need to talk about a new game plan. One that involves all of us.”

A dad talking to his son | Source: Pexels

A spark of hope ignited in my chest. Maybe this whole ordeal had been a blessing in disguise. Maybe it was time to rewrite the rules of our family dynamic, to create a new routine where everyone contributed and pitched in. A new routine where we were a team, not just roommates sharing a space.

Well, folks, that’s how I learned a valuable lesson: family time is more important than chasing that paycheck. I wanted to teach my husband and son, but ended up learning the biggest lesson myself!

Silhouette of a happy and peaceful family at the beach | Source: Midjourney