Oh, my dearest readers, grab your comfy slippers and a cup of tea because I’ve stumbled upon a real-life Reddit tale that’s as juicy as an overripe peach in the scorching sun. This yarn spins around a doctor, her spouse, and the precious commodity known as sleep. Yes, darlings, today we’re diving into the riveting world of napping etiquette and marital expectations. Buckle up, buttercups, because this is a real story from a real person, and Roger’s Hot Take at the end will be worth the wait.
Our protagonist, a dedicated doctor named Heather, and her lovely wife of 10 years find themselves in a pickle that’s sourer than a lemon dipped in vinegar. After enduring what I can only assume was a marathon of a shift filled with more drama than a season finale of Grey’s Anatomy, Heather, our tired heroine, longs for nothing more than to catch some Z’s. She instructs her spouse to wake her by dinner, wishing to spend quality time with their two adorable munchkins upon her awakening. Alas, when her wife attempts to rouse her from her slumber, Heather sleeps more soundly than a hibernating bear, completely unresponsive to gentle nudges and tender kisses.
The next morning, Heather awakens not to the smell of fresh coffee or the giggles of her children but to the harsh light of dawn and the realization that she missed an entire evening with her family. Her disappointment is palpable, my friends. She accuses her spouse of not trying hard enough to wake her, sparking a debate hotter than a jalapeño on a summer day.
Now, let’s unpack this suitcase of familial drama, shall we? On one hand, we have a spouse, tired from saving lives and probably dreaming of puppies running on rainbows, asking for a mere two hours of shut-eye before rejoining her family unit. On the other, we have her partner, faced with the Herculean task of waking Sleeping Beauty without the aid of a magical kiss.
The question that dances on everyone’s lips is: Was the decision to let Heather sleep through her requested wake-up call a monumental act of kindness or a grave oversight that robbed them of precious family time?
Before you cast your stones or crown someone the saint of sleep, let me sprinkle a bit of my seasoned wisdom onto this piping hot dish of domesticity. Communication, my dear Watsons, is the foundation upon which the house of marriage stands. While intentions on both sides were purer than a glass of distilled water, execution was as flawed as a plan hatched by Wile E. Coyote.
Heather’s wife, bless her heart, made a judgement call that many of us night owls would applaud, prioritizing rest for her overworked spouse. Yet, in doing so, she inadvertently deprived Heather of something equally nourishing to the soul: family time. Could she have employed more inventive methods to awaken her beloved? Possibly. A marching band, perhaps, or the scent of freshly baked cookies wafting under her nose. But, let’s not forget, she was also managing the whims and wails of two young children, a task that could easily leave Hercules trembling.
Now, for Roger’s Hot Take: Neither party is the villain in this sleepy saga. They are simply two loving souls navigating the labyrinth of marriage, parenthood, and demanding careers. They are a testament to the balancing act that many of us perform daily, attempting to juggle the roles of partner, parent, and professional without dropping any balls.
The true villain, my lovelies, is the absence of a plan B for failed wake-up calls and the lack of understanding that sometimes, the best-laid plans go awry. This story should not be a battleground but a launchpad for discussing expectations, desires, and how to better support each other’s needs.
In a world that never stops spinning, taking a moment to connect, communicate, and care for one another is more refreshing than a cold lemonade on a sweltering day. So, let’s all take a page from Heather and her wife’s book and remember to talk, listen, and love a little harder.
And remember, when in doubt, there’s always Roger’s Hot Take to guide you through the labyrinth of life’s spiciest dilemmas. Until next time, keep your pillows fluffed and your takes hot.
Original story
Using a theowaway for obvious reasons. Just a quick background info: My wife (Heather – 36F) and I (35F) have been together for the past 14 years, and married for 10. We have two daughters ( 4 and 6 years old) together.
Heather is a doctor and she works ridiculously long hours, gets tired, etc. Yesterday she came back home after being away all day (she was on call and needed to go in for an emergency surgery), and told me she was going to sleep for a couple of hours and asked me to wake her up by dinner so she could see the girls and I a bit.
She slept around 5 PM. I tried to wake her at 7 PM. I called for her, softly shook her, gave her a kiss on the cheek but she didn’t get up. (She is a very light sleeper ans these things wake her up 90% of the time). I thought she needed the rest and let her sleep. Heather slept until the next morning which is when she needed to go to work.
Heather was very upset the following morning saying I should have woken her up, and that I had caused her to miss an entire day of family time. I explained that she didn’t get up and she said I just should have tried harder to wake her.
I get that she wants to be present in our family (and she is) and she wants out kids to see both their moms but I just wanted to let her get some much needed sleep to help her be well rested for the next day. Was I genuinely the AH?