At 39 weeks pregnant, I attended my husband’s birthday dinner hoping for a peaceful evening. Instead, I left in tears after he asked me to take our daughter home early — so he could stay behind and “enjoy himself.” Exhausted and aching, I couldn’t believe he expected me to drive alone with our child, so close to my due date. What stung more was how casually he said it, as if I didn’t matter.
His mother, Grace, was the only one who stood up for me. She calmly but firmly called out his behavior in front of everyone, reminding him that I was carrying his child and needed his support. For the first time, someone saw what I’d been carrying — not just the pregnancy, but the emotional load of doing it all alone while he made excuses to avoid responsibility.
That night, I walked out with our daughter and Grace by my side. Back home, as I sat quietly with my thoughts, I realized something had shifted. I wasn’t just tired — I was done being ignored. I didn’t know what the future held for my marriage, but I knew I deserved better, and so did our children.
Grace reassured me I wasn’t alone, and for the first time in months, I believed it. As the baby kicked stronger, I whispered a promise to them: you will always feel loved — no matter what. What comes next, I don’t know yet. But I’m ready to choose strength, for me and for my family.