“She Came to Her Daughter-in-Law’s at 10 AM: Son at Work, Kids Playing Alone, and She’s Still Asleep”: Then Complains to My Son About Being Exhausted

My son, Mark, and his wife, Emily, have been married for six years. They have two energetic boys, Ethan and Noah, who are three and five years old. Mark works long hours at a tech company, while Emily stays home to take care of the kids. They live in a cozy house in a suburban neighborhood, not too far from where I live.

One morning, I decided to drop by their house unannounced. It was around 10 AM, and I thought it would be a good time to see how Emily was managing with the kids. When I arrived, I was surprised to find the front door slightly ajar. I let myself in and was greeted by the sight of Ethan and Noah playing with their toys in the living room. They seemed happy and content, but there was no sign of Emily.

I called out her name, but there was no response. I walked through the house and finally found her in the bedroom, still asleep. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was already mid-morning, and she was still in bed while the kids were left to entertain themselves.

I gently woke her up, and she looked startled to see me. “Oh, hi,” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. “I must have overslept.”

“Emily, it’s 10 AM,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “The kids have been playing by themselves for who knows how long.”

She sighed and sat up, looking exhausted. “I know, I’m just so tired all the time. I barely get any sleep with the boys waking up at night.”

I couldn’t help but feel frustrated. Mark worked hard to provide for the family, and it seemed like Emily wasn’t pulling her weight. I decided not to say anything more and helped her get the boys ready for the day.

Later that evening, Mark called me to check in. I mentioned my visit and how I found Emily still asleep at 10 AM. He sounded concerned but tried to defend her. “Mom, she’s really struggling with the kids. They can be a handful.”

“I understand that, Mark,” I replied. “But you work long hours to support the family. She needs to step up and manage her time better.”

A few days later, Mark called me again, sounding even more worried. “Mom, Emily’s been complaining about being exhausted all the time. She says she can’t handle the kids on her own.”

I felt a pang of guilt for being so harsh on Emily, but I also knew that something needed to change. “Maybe she needs some help,” I suggested. “Have you thought about hiring a part-time nanny or enrolling the boys in daycare for a few hours a day?”

Mark agreed that it might be a good idea and promised to discuss it with Emily. However, things didn’t improve as we had hoped. Emily continued to struggle with managing the household and taking care of the kids. She became more withdrawn and irritable, often snapping at Mark and the boys.

One evening, Mark called me in tears. “Mom, I don’t know what to do anymore. Emily’s not herself. She’s always tired and angry. The boys are starting to notice, and it’s affecting them too.”

My heart broke for my son and his family. It was clear that Emily was overwhelmed and needed more support than we could provide. We decided to seek professional help for her, hoping that therapy might help her cope with the stress.

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, Emily’s condition didn’t improve. The strain on their marriage grew stronger, and Mark eventually had to make the difficult decision to separate from her for the sake of the children.

It was a heartbreaking outcome for everyone involved. Mark moved back in with me temporarily while we figured out the next steps for the family. The boys missed their mother terribly, but we tried our best to provide them with a stable and loving environment.

In the end, there was no happy resolution to our story. It served as a stark reminder of how important it is to recognize when someone is struggling and to offer support before it’s too late.