Honestly, you wont believe what happened. You know Im a new mumstill getting used to it! Im 33, and right now Im stuck wearing a neck brace because my husband, Tom (hes 34), just couldnt stop himself from scrolling through Instagram at a red light. To make things worse, while Im trying to recover, hes suddenly threatening to freeze my bank cards. I honestly thought I was trapped, until someone in the family stepped in and sorted it.
Weve got a little girl, Sophie. Shes only six months old. Two weeks ago, we were coming home from the GPs surgery after an appointment. Sophie was having a meltdown in the back seat, so I twisted around as best as I could to give her her dummy. Tom was meant to be paying attention to the road, but his phone was glowing in the cup holder, he was giggling at some video, one hand on the wheel, the other typing away.
I remember saying, Oi, the lights changing! Then suddenly my whole body jerked forward, my head whipped violently to the side. There was this searing, electric pain from the base of my skull right down to my shoulder. A&E told me it was a severe neck strain with a pinched nerve. Their advice: neck brace and no lifting or bending for weeksmaybe months.
Then came the threats
Ive always been independentfull-time job in marketing, my own savings tucked away. Suddenly I could barely wash my own hair, pick up my daughter, or even get my trainers off without help. Tom was bearable for the first couple of days, though he wouldnt shut up about how much he hated nappy changes. And then it was his birthday.
Normally, I handle everything for his parties. This year, I thought it would be cancelledobviously. But Tom breezes in and just casually says, The lads are coming round Friday. Game night. Already told them. When I tried to explain that I wasnt really up for hosting, he let out the biggest, most dramatic sighlike Id just smashed his car up.
If you dont sort it, he snapped at me, dont expect me to give you any more money. Im not paying you to lounge around. Honestly, that stung more than the crash itself. Wed agreed together that Id be home with Sophie six months; it was our money, our savings. Suddenly, it was all his and I was just some lazy lodger.
The party funded by my rainy day jar
I was scared hed actually freeze my account, so gave in. From my tiny personal savings Id built up before wed married, I hired a cleaning service and ordered food and drinkscost over £500! My emergency fund paid for Toms party, while Im apparently not enough of an emergency myself.
Friday night, the place was spotless. Tom actually gave me a slap on the hip, like I was a skivvy, and said, See? Wasnt that hard. The boys turned up, started their racket, and I ended up half-lying on the sofa, trying not to sob every time I moved. I caught Tom telling his mates, Shes basically on holiday, just lazing about with the baby all day.
An unexpected guest
Then the doorbell rings. Tom jumps up, thinking its the pizza blokebut then he freezes. Standing in the doorway is his mum, Janet. She spots the beer bottles everywhere, takeaway boxes (all on my tab!), me stuck in my neck brace, the baby monitor glowing on the coffee table.
She looks him up and down and just goes, Come with me. Now. Dead quiet. The lads go silent. Janet walks in and just announces, Gentlemen, enjoy the rest of your evening. My son is leaving.
Tom tries to protest, Mum, its my birthday! She absolutely tears him off a strip: This is the house I helped you buy, Tom. You threatened your injured wife with money because you couldnt put your phone down at the lights? You either start acting like a proper husband or you can live on your own. Youll be sleeping at mine tonightand youll think long and hard about what sort of man you want to be.
For the first time, I felt safe
The blokes disappeared practically before shed finished talking, Tom slunk out after her without a word, shame written all over his face. Janet stayed behind, sat next to me, and let me absolutely bawl my eyes out. She just said, You should have called me the day it happened, love. Then she rolled up her sleeves, blitzed the house, and made sure I knew shed have my back.
So here we are. Toms still at his mums, full of apologies and tears, promising hell change, admitting he was a selfish idiot. I dont know whats going to happen with our marriage. I need space, proper support, and an actual partnernot someone who treats me like the hired help.
When karma finally showed up at the front door, she was wearing Janets cardigan, firm voice and all, telling Tom, Your wife is staying. You arent.That night, as Sophie finally settled, I curled up on the freshly made sofa, rain soft against the windows, and let out the first real breath Id taken in weeks. Janet tucked a thick blanket around my feet and poured me a cup of tea strong enough to dissolve anythingpain, fear, even regret. She reached over without a word and gently squeezed my hand. I realized, suddenly, that I had a choice: I could keep desperately patching up a life that barely held me together, or I could begin again on my own terms, supportednot smothered.
The next morning, Janet texted to say Tom had messaged her four apologies before breakfast and was, at that moment, scrubbing her skirting boards for character building. Sophie gurgled at me, fist stubbornly wedged in her mouth, eyes shining with possibilities. I grinned at her, aches and all, and promised wed stick together, brace or no brace. Itd just be us and the people who showed up when it counted.
Maybe Tom would change. Maybe he wouldnt. But as the sun spilled through the curtains, I knew one thing: I wasnt trapped anymore. One persons thoughtlessness and anothers stubborn love had collided in my living room, and I was finally free to choose happinessfor both me and Sophie.
And if Janet wanted to stop by for tea and biscuits every Thursday, well, maybe karma could stay for good.
