When my husband Ethan came home one Sunday afternoon, something felt off. His expression showed he’d rehearsed what he was about to say. Then, he dropped a bombshell: his mother and he had decided I should quit my job.
At first, I thought it was a joke, but when I saw how serious he was, it hit me—he and Diane believed my career didn’t matter. They wanted me to become their personal housekeeper.
I’d been married to Ethan for two years, and things were mostly good. I had a stable job as a financial consultant, but there was one constant complication—my mother-in-law, Diane. Ethan was a mama’s boy who always took her advice, no matter how unreasonable. Diane had opinions on everything, including how I should prioritize family over my career.
I’d learned to manage her over time, but this time, they crossed a line. Ethan and Diane wanted me to quit my job to take care of their home. Ethan argued my work stressed me out, and Diane added that a woman’s value was in caring for her family, not working.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. They really thought I should give up my career for their convenience. Diane even suggested I’d be paid for doing household work, like a servant.
I played along, telling them I would quit and become their full-time housekeeper. But the next morning, I followed through by informing my boss I was taking a leave and cutting off my income.
The changes came fast. Diane’s spa days? Gone. Ethan’s shopping sprees? Over. The lifestyle they enjoyed vanished without my paycheck.
After a month, I told them I missed work and would be returning. But there was a twist—I also filed for divorce. The look on their faces was priceless.
The divorce was finalized, and I finally had my life back. Ethan tried to apologize, but I was done. His mother had controlled everything, and the cheating accusation was the final straw. I couldn’t stay with someone who let his mother dictate our lives.
What would you have done in my shoes?