A Lesson for My Wife
Ive had enough! I snapped, pushing my spoon aside and fixing my wife with a sharp glare. Was this even supposed to be dinner? The pasta was so overcooked it was practically mush, and the meatballs looked as if theyd barely seen a frying pan. What have you been doing all day? Glued to your phone, I bet?
How dare you! Emily let out a dramatic sniff, hastily tucking her phone behind her. Ive been watching Oliver, actually! Hes such a handful definitely takes after you, she added spitefully, watching my patience run thin. Youve no idea how hard its been for me! Having a child nearly broke me, you know
Olivers two and a half, Emily, I replied, forcing myself to keep my voice steady. Its high time he started nursery, and you got back to work. Life would be easier straight away.
Why on earth would I want to send him into that den of germs? she shot back, appalled. You want us living at the doctors surgery?
Youre supposed to actually do things with your child teach him, help him learn, if you havent realised.
We do things! Emily bristled. Olivers really bright for his age, the health visitor even said so! Im not being idle, Matthew! Wed had this argument before, and deep down she was terrified Id really send him to nursery. She was quite set against returning to work. After all these months of maternity leave, loafing around on her phone had become the new norm, and she was in no hurry to give that up.
And who do you think you should thank for that? I demanded, slamming my fist on the table so hard the plate bounced. My mum, thats who! Shes the one who plays with Oliver, helps him learn, reads him stories! Youre either fast asleep or glued to that wretched phone. Why cant you tidy the house or cook a decent meal? Why should I come home from a long days work to this slop? I couldnt even look at the culinary masterpiece before me.
Im not your cook! And Im not a cleaner, either! Im your wife! Youre supposed to provide for me make my life comfortable!
Emily actually believed every word of that. After all those chat shows and hours spent on womens forums, shed come to a new vision of what being a wife meant. Once shed thought a wife should care for her husband, keep the house well, and look after the children; now shed convinced herself only servants did those things. She thought herself too important for such menial tasks.
Is that so? I struggled to keep my voice level. So I work all day, pay the bills, and you just warm the sofa? Is that it?
Im working on personal development! she replied haughtily. Soon, youll be bragging to your friends about how clever your wife is I can discuss anything with anyone!
Oh, really? What was the last book you finished? What have you learnt lately? I stood up and faced her, arms crossed. Nothing to say? Figures. Social media nonsense doesnt count as self-improvement, Emily, and those daft chat shows theyre nothing but noise. Tell me, seriously: will you actually look after our home and our son like a proper wife or not?
No! Ive said it already Im not some maid
She launched into a tirade, bombarding me with complaints I didnt earn enough, I acted like a control freak, I was never home. I listened in stony silence until she finished, then simply replied:
Divorce.
What? she faltered, halfway through a new complaint.
Divorce, I repeated, cool as you please. Ill find a woman whos a proper wife and a good mother to my son. As it is, you only spend a couple of hours a day with Oliver. The rest of the time hes with his grandmothers. Youre no mother, Emily, and frankly you dont deserve the title of wife either.
She looked momentarily rattled, but then just waved me off. She thought I was bluffing. I mean, I wouldnt really go through with it, would I? Surely shed get custody shes the mother, after all.
But I changed. I stopped talking to her, stopped even greeting her. Oliver and my mum went away to Brighton for a couple of weeks Emily didnt object for once, happy for some uninterrupted time with her phone. But after a few lonely days, she started missing Oliver and rang my mum more and more.
Then, two weeks after our argument, a letter arrived. A court summons. Id gone through with it I filed for divorce. And at the hearing, she had a shock her own mother, Sandra, sided with me.
I truly believe Oliver should stay with his father, Sandra declared firmly, glancing with disappointment at her daughter. Sadly, Emilys never had a motherly instinct. She left the child-rearing to me and to Matthews mother. Matthews worked very hard and still managed to be a present and loving dad.
The judge listened, half-smiling at Emilys distress. She was right to be nervous Emily had nothing: no job, no home, no proper relationship with Oliver. I had every chance of getting custody.
Please, give me time to reconcile! Dont divorce us yet! Let me have another chance! Emily cried in court. Matthew, I swear Ill change! All this nonsense about being a maid its done! Ill be the perfect wife, just believe in me!
Well see
********************
One month earlier.
My daughters lost all discipline, Im afraid its embarrassing to see her like this, Sandra shook her head. Matthew, I understand how you feel. She sits at home all day and cant even tidy up, let alone look after her own son. If you decide to divorce, youll get no objection from me just let me see Oliver now and again, thats all I ask.
I love Emily, despite all her faults, I sighed. But its not a great situation. Still, I want to give her a chance to change.
You could. Actually, Ive an idea how. File for divorce. Emily wont want it, and youll have three months to reconcile. A proper wake-up call.
********************
Emily did learn her lesson. The house became tidy again, wonderful smells began wafting from the kitchen, and Emily herself turned attentive and cheerful. Crucially, she finally paid attention to Oliver, much to his delight. He really did adore his rather hopeless mum.
If Ive learnt anything from all this, its that you sometimes need to let someone face losing what they take for granted before they truly value it. Even those you love most might need that lesson.
