Mother’s Day Mayhem: The Time My Husband Forgot and I Can’t Even
Ah, Mother’s Day. That one magical day a year when moms around the world are celebrated for enduring the sweet agony of raising tiny humans. Now, you’d think the bare minimum for acknowledging this monumental labor would at least involve a card, right? Well, buckle up, because we’re diving into one spectacular Reddit tale where the Mother’s Day magic was, uh, conspicuously absent.
Our heroine, a 35-year-old new mom, has been married to her 38-year-old husband for five years. They’ve just welcomed a baby following 3 years of a harrowing fertility rollercoaster. Celebrate good times, come on? Not so fast.
Let’s get one thing clear: the aforementioned husband is, by all accounts, a great guy. Faithful? Check. Supportive? Check. Amazing dad? Double check. Romantic and perceptive when it comes to special occasions? Missed the memo on that one. But for heaven’s sake, it’s her first Mother’s Day. I’m not talking skywriting or diamond tiaras here. Just a card—a cute little card for her to squirrel away in their son’s baby book.
Spoiler alert: Hubby drops the ball. No card, no handwritten note, not even a feeble scribble. Nada!
Houston, We Have a Problem
As you might imagine, our new mom wasn’t exactly thrilled. She’s been stand-offish and irritable, and finally, the clueless birthday boy—I mean, husband—asks what’s poking the bear. She tells him, and to his credit, he feels absolutely awful and genuinely sorry. You know what they say about good intentions paving the road to…well, you get the gist.
The situation goes from bad to awkward. She points out the elephant in the room: You NEVER get back your first Mother’s Day. No do-overs. No CTRL+Z here. And yet, when the conversation resurfaces, guess who gets agitated because the wife can’t just “get over it”? That’s right, Mr. Forget-Me-Not.
Mother’s Day: A Hallmark Holiday or Legit Show of Gratitude?
OK, ladies and gents, let’s talk about where the rubber meets the road here. There are two schools of thought: one, Mother’s Day is a consumerist gimmick cooked up by card companies to vacuum money out of our wallets. Two, it’s a legitimately significant day to appreciate and honor the women who undergo the mammoth task of motherhood.
No matter which side of the fence you’re on, some things are rudimentary. Like, knowing that your wife’s first Mother’s Day especially deserves a bit more than a casual shrug. And memo to hubby: being an only child isn’t a license to completely gloss over the importance of these things. We all have to adult at some point.
You Can’t Unring a Bell, but You Can Buy a Gorgeously Loud One
Now, one might say, “Roger, why not cut the guy some slack? He felt bad about it, after all.” Yeah, sure, except that it’s not rocket science to know that your spouse would appreciate some recognition. It’s like thinking you can dodge traffic while wearing a blindfold. Spoiler: you can’t.
Apologies are great and all, but what’s crucial here is understanding that actions (or inactions) have a lasting impact. This isn’t about being materialistic; it’s about the lasting emotional imprint these actions—or lack thereof—leave.
Roger’s Take: Fireworks and Fixes
Let’s cut through the frilly nonsense and get to the heart of the matter, shall we? Look, I get it. No one is perfect and we all have our off-days. But the husband here missed a monumental cue. Forgetting a birthday? Meh. Blanking on your wife’s first Mother’s Day after years of fertility struggles? That’s a different ball game.
Is our protagonist an AH for feeling upset? Not even close. Exasperation and hurt are pretty par for the course here. Can we all agree that this is more about thoughtfulness than grand gestures? A sincere note, a little card—heck, even a poorly drawn ‘I Love You Mum’ from the baby would’ve been a home run. It’s the emotional investment that counts, people.
So, what’s the fix here? For starters, hubby needs to make it clear he’s in tune with her feelings—not just because he got caught with his pants down, but because he understands why it hurt. Genuine effort moving forward will be key. And for the wife? Recognize the apology and find common ground for better communication. And most importantly, keep the expectations real but the signals loud and clear.
Until next time, my lovely readers, may your special days be as unforgettable as you deserve. And to all the new dads out there: your homework is to nail the next Mother’s Day. Trust me, it’s a long-term investment you’ll be grateful you made.
Original story
Me (35 f) and my husband (38 m) have been married for 5 years. We recently had our first baby (3 month old) after trying/fertility issues for 3 years.
We both have been over the moon with our baby and he is truly an amazing dad, person, and husband, however, for Mother’s Day he did absolutely nothing… I never expect much from my husband on special days/holidays. He has never been a good gift giver and not a very romantic guy.
I am unsure if that is due to him being an only child, but I honestly thought he would have done something for my first Mother’s Day. All I wanted truly was a cute card from him and our baby to put in our son’s baby book.
I have been a little stand offish/irritable lately, and my husband approached me to ask me what was going on. I told him I was really hurt that he didn’t really acknowledge or do anything for my first Mother’s Day.
You can tell he feels awful and is sorry, but I still cannot get over the fact that he did nothing. We can never get back my first Mother’s Day.
Last night we talked about the situation again with no resolution. He actually seemed a little frustrated with me for still being upset over this.
AITAH for not being able to look past this and becoming withdrawn from my marriage?