{"id":17846,"date":"2026-05-09T23:54:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T16:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/?p=17846"},"modified":"2026-05-09T23:54:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T16:54:42","slug":"my-husband-gave-me-exactly-4-minutes-in-the-shower-before-shutting-off-the-water-to-teach-me-discipline-then-his-father-found-out-and-taught-his-son-a-lesson-far-worse-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/?p=17846","title":{"rendered":"My husband controlled my showers with a timer and cut the water after 4 minutes. He thought it was funny\u2014until his father heard what he\u2019d been doing to me."},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"InfoLine_wrapper__C_h_D\"><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Six weeks after giving birth, I was begging for a few minutes in the shower when my husband taped a timer to the door and told me I had four minutes before he&#8217;d cut the water. When my father-in-law found out, he made sure my husband learned a lesson he&#8217;d never forget.<\/span><\/div>\n<div data-io-article-url=\"https:\/\/amomama.com\/535877-my-husband-only-allowed-me-4-minutes-in.html?utm_campaign=473_1438134&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook_page_nostalgia&amp;utm_term=page_nostalgia&amp;m=dob\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_1\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_01\">\n<div id=\"in_article_1\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">My life had become a loop of feeding, rocking, burping, washing bottles, and trying not to cry when our baby cried for the fourth time in an hour.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Our daughter, Maisie, was beautiful and very much a newborn, which meant sleep came in scraps and peace came in seconds. And while I was learning how to mother on broken rest, Gerald was becoming a man I barely recognized.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Sleep came in scraps and peace came in seconds.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">He worked from home, which sounded helpful when I was pregnant. In reality, it meant my husband stayed behind a closed office door while I moved through the house like a robot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_2\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_02\">\n<div id=\"in_article_2\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald said the baby distracted him. He said the dishes stacked too loudly. He claimed I walked too hard down the hall. None of it was said with shouting. Somehow, that made it worse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Then came his obsession with saving money. Gerald questioned every pack of diapers, every extra load of laundry, and every degree on the air conditioner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">One afternoon he stood in the hallway and said, &#8220;Ten minutes. That&#8217;s enough cool air for the day, Jennie.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;It&#8217;s 90 degrees outside,&#8221; I said in disbelief.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald shrugged. &#8220;Then sit near a window.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;It&#8217;s 90 degrees outside.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_3\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_03\">\n<div id=\"in_article_3\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I stopped ordering takeout, cut corners on groceries, reused freezer bags, and line-dried baby clothes. Every time I thought,\u00a0<i class=\"postComponents_italic__3sya1\">This is ridiculous,\u00a0<\/i>I swallowed it and kept moving.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Strange seasons are one thing. What Gerald did next was something else entirely.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">At first, it started with comments through the bathroom door:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\"><i class=\"postComponents_italic__3sya1\">&#8220;How long are you going to be in there, Jennie?&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\"><i class=\"postComponents_italic__3sya1\">&#8220;Maisie&#8217;s crying.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\"><i class=\"postComponents_italic__3sya1\">&#8220;Jennie, seriously, taking a vacation in the bathroom?&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I showered fast already. My hair was usually up; my soap was unscented. I was just trying to wash spit-up off my neck and remember what clean skin felt like.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\"><i class=\"postComponents_italic__3sya1\">&#8220;Jennie, seriously, taking a vacation in the bathroom?&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_4\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_04\">\n<div id=\"in_article_4\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">One morning, Gerald knocked while I was rinsing the conditioner. &#8220;You need to be out quicker. I can&#8217;t handle that crying.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I opened the curtain a crack. &#8220;She&#8217;s your daughter too.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald&#8217;s face went flat. &#8220;I have a low tolerance for nonstop noise.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;She&#8217;s six weeks old, Gerald.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;And you know she starts up when you&#8217;re out of sight. So stop taking forever,&#8221; he snapped.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I looked at the shampoo still running over my shoulders and felt something in me sink. There is a special kind of loneliness in realizing your exhaustion is invisible to the person living right beside you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;She&#8217;s your daughter too.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_1\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_01\">\n<div id=\"in_article_1-0\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">When I stepped into the bathroom the following morning, there was a digital kitchen timer taped to the glass shower door at eye level. Four minutes had already been set.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I waited for Gerald to smile and say he was kidding. Instead, he leaned against the frame, holding a second timer. &#8220;I have the same one out here. If the buzzer goes off and you&#8217;re not out, I&#8217;m shutting the water off at the main.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Gerald, that&#8217;s not funny,&#8221; I said, caught between shock and hurt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;I&#8217;m not trying to be funny,&#8221; he shrugged. &#8220;I&#8217;m trying to keep the house running.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Are you serious?&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald folded his arms. &#8220;Very.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;I&#8217;m trying to keep the house running.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_2\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_02\">\n<div id=\"in_article_2-1\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I still wanted to believe he wouldn&#8217;t actually go through with it. But the first time the alarm went off, I froze.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\"><i class=\"postComponents_italic__3sya1\">Beep. Beep. Beep.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I still had soap on one arm and shampoo at the roots of my hair. Then the water cut out so suddenly that the pipes thudded in the wall. I stood there, dripping and stunned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Time&#8217;s up!&#8221; Gerald called through the door.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I wrapped myself in a towel, filled a plastic pitcher from the sink, and went back to the tub to rinse with cold water while Maisie cried from her bassinet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald didn&#8217;t apologize. When I came out, he said, &#8220;See? You can make it work.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">The first time the alarm went off, I froze.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_3\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_03\">\n<div id=\"in_article_3-2\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Do you hear yourself?&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald glanced at his laptop. &#8220;I hear the baby. That&#8217;s the issue.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">The second time was worse because I was ready for it. I rushed, skipped washing my hair, barely scrubbed, and watched the numbers count down while my hands shook.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">When the beeping started, I lunged for the handle, but Gerald cut the water, anyway. I filled a bucket and finished rinsing in silence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">He passed the doorway, saw me crouched there, and said, &#8220;You need to learn to manage your time better.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I couldn&#8217;t answer because I had started adapting, and that scared me more than the timer did.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;I hear the baby. That&#8217;s the issue.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_4\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_04\">\n<div id=\"in_article_4-3\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Last week had already been rough. Maisie had been fussy for two days. I had spit-up in my hair, dried formula on the counter, and three hours of broken sleep in my body.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald had spent part of the night in his office with headphones on while I felt less like a wife and more like unpaid labor with a wedding ring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">By 10 o&#8217;clock that morning, I needed a shower so badly I could have cried. I fed Maisie, changed her, laid her down drowsy, and slipped into the bathroom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">The timer was already there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I had shampoo in my hair within 30 seconds, scrubbing spit-up off my scalp so hard it stung. Outside the door, Maisie started to fuss. Then cry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I needed a shower so badly I could have cried.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_1\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_01\">\n<div id=\"in_article_1-4\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Jennie!&#8221; Gerald called.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;I&#8217;m almost done!&#8221; I shouted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Timer says otherwise,&#8221; he replied.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\"><i class=\"postComponents_italic__3sya1\">Beep. Beep. Beep.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Then the water vanished.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I stood there with suds still in my hair. For one weak second, I thought,\u00a0<i class=\"postComponents_italic__3sya1\">I need to apologize.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">That is how twisted the whole thing had become.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Timer says otherwise.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_2\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_02\">\n<div id=\"in_article_2-5\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">But when I pushed the shower door open, quickly shrugged into my robe, and stepped into the hallway, it wasn&#8217;t Gerald standing there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">It was Robert, my father-in-law. He had been staying with us on and off lately, wanting extra time with his granddaughter, and now he stood there holding the second timer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald was three feet away, pale and stiff. Robert handed me a towel without a word. Then he turned to Gerald and said, very quietly, &#8220;Explain this.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald tried a laugh first. The nervous kind people use when they hope nonsense will pass as logic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Dad, it&#8217;s not what it looks like!&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;I saw you rushing to the main valve three mornings in a row, son,&#8221; Robert said. &#8220;Today I followed you.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;I saw you rushing to the main valve three mornings in a row, son.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_3\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_03\">\n<div id=\"in_article_3-6\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald swallowed. &#8220;We&#8217;re just trying to manage the baby&#8217;s routine.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Robert held up the timer. &#8220;You taped this to the shower?&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Jennie takes too long, Dad,&#8221; Gerald reasoned. &#8220;Maisie cries. I have work.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;So your answer was to time your wife like a guest overstaying in a motel,&#8221; Robert retorted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald&#8217;s mouth opened, then closed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;It&#8217;s been going on for days,&#8221; I said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Robert&#8217;s expression softened just enough to break my heart a little. &#8220;Go rinse your hair in the guest bath. Take your time.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;It&#8217;s been going on for days.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_4\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_04\">\n<div id=\"in_article_4-7\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald stepped forward. &#8220;Dad, this isn&#8217;t necessary.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Robert didn&#8217;t look at him. &#8220;Sit down.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">For the first time since Maisie was born, I saw someone in that house take my exhaustion seriously without asking me to defend it. When I closed the guest bathroom door, my hands were shaking so badly that I had to grip the sink.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">By the time I came back, Robert had papers spread across the kitchen table.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">He had made a schedule. Not a rough list, but a printed, minute-by-minute breakdown of my entire day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\"><i class=\"postComponents_italic__3sya1\"><strong class=\"postComponents_bold__fagP2\">5:10 a.m. \u2014 Feed baby.<\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\"><i class=\"postComponents_italic__3sya1\"><strong class=\"postComponents_bold__fagP2\">5:45 a.m. \u2014 Change diaper.<\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\"><i class=\"postComponents_italic__3sya1\"><strong class=\"postComponents_bold__fagP2\">6:20 a.m. \u2014 Wash bottles.<\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\"><i class=\"postComponents_italic__3sya1\"><strong class=\"postComponents_bold__fagP2\">7:15 a.m. \u2014 Make breakfast.<\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">And on and on, right into the night wake-ups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_1\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_01\">\n<div id=\"in_article_1-8\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Dad, this isn&#8217;t necessary.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;How did you even&#8230;&#8221; I started.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;I&#8217;ve been here long enough to notice,&#8221; Robert replied. &#8220;More than once I found you awake at two in the morning and again at six. I also noticed my son somehow had time for games, naps, and opinions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald looked irritated. &#8220;Dad, this is dramatic.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Robert slid the pages across. &#8220;For the next seven days, you&#8217;re doing everything on that list. Feeding, diaper changes, laundry, bottles, meals, cleanup, soothing, nighttime wake-ups\u2026 all of it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_2\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_02\">\n<div id=\"in_article_2-9\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;This is ridiculous,&#8221; Gerald bit out.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;No. Ridiculous is taping a timer to a shower door because your recovering wife needs more than four minutes to wash her hair,&#8221; Robert muttered.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Dad, this is dramatic.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald stared as if the terms might change if he waited long enough. Robert was not bargaining.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;And Jennie gets uninterrupted time,&#8221; Robert added. &#8220;However long she needs.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald rubbed the back of his neck. &#8220;I have meetings.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_3\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_03\">\n<div id=\"in_article_3-10\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Robert nodded. &#8220;Then you&#8217;ll learn what women learn every day. Life doesn&#8217;t pause because you&#8217;re inconvenienced. As long as you&#8217;re living in a house I helped you buy, this is how the next week goes. And I will be here to make sure it happens.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;You can&#8217;t just take over my house, Dad.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Robert folded his hands. &#8220;Watch me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;I will be here to make sure it happens.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I sat stunned, not triumphant. Gerald looked at me as if I should rescue him. I didn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_4\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_04\">\n<div id=\"in_article_4-11\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Robert picked up Maisie. &#8220;Jennie, go lie down. You&#8217;re off duty.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">My body moved toward Maisie before my mind could catch it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;No,&#8221; Robert said gently. &#8220;Let him start.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald took the baby with all the confidence of a man who had mostly participated in theory. Maisie began fussing immediately.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;You wanted control,&#8221; Robert said. &#8220;Start there.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I sat on the edge of the bed with my hands in my lap, listening to Maisie cry, Gerald murmur at her, and a bottle warming too long somewhere in the kitchen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald looked at me as if I should rescue him.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_1\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_01\">\n<div id=\"in_article_1-12\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">An hour later, Robert knocked softly and handed me a mug of tea.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;How is he doing?&#8221; I asked.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">He looked almost amused. &#8220;Poorly.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I let out a sound that was half laugh, half cry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">That night, Gerald did every wake-up. By dawn he looked wrecked, shirt inside out, changing pad soaked from a missed diaper tab. At breakfast, he stared at the coffee maker like he&#8217;d forgotten what the buttons did.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Long night?&#8221; Robert asked.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Gerald dragged a hand over his face. &#8220;How do you do this every day, Jennie?&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I looked down at my plate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;How do you do this every day, Jennie?&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_2\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_02\">\n<div id=\"in_article_2-13\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">By the second night, my husband was slower.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">By the third, he was quiet. He stopped mentioning water bills, stopped counting minutes, and started sounding like a tired father learning his child.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">On the fourth night, I woke to Maisie fussing and Gerald&#8217;s footsteps crossing the nursery floor. I lay still, old habits pulling at me. Then I heard him pick her up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Hey, hey. I&#8217;ve got you.&#8221; A pause. The creak of the rocking chair. Then Gerald&#8217;s voice again, so low I almost missed it. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry. I didn&#8217;t know it was like this.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Tears slipped sideways into my hairline. He wasn&#8217;t exactly talking to me. Maybe to Maisie. Maybe to the version of me he&#8217;d ignored all those weeks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry. I didn&#8217;t know it was like this.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_3\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_03\">\n<div id=\"in_article_3-14\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">The next morning, the timer was sitting on the kitchen counter, its tape peeled off and its screen dark.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;I took it down,&#8221; Gerald told me. &#8220;I called someone about the shower valve, too. I shouldn&#8217;t have touched it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I believed him, but I was still learning not to brace myself for the next bit of coldness.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Robert left two days later after making Gerald repeat the feeding schedule back to him like a student before a test.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">At the door, he squeezed my shoulder. &#8220;Call me if this nonsense returns.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;Thank you, Robert,&#8221; I said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">He gave his son a look I&#8217;ll never forget. &#8220;Mean it this time.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">&#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t have touched it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_4\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_04\">\n<div id=\"in_article_4-15\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_04_4__container__\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">The next morning, I walked into the bathroom and stood under the water without rushing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">No timer. No voice came through the door. No footsteps in the hall. Just steam climbing the mirror and hot water easing days of tension out of my shoulders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I washed my hair twice. I let the conditioner sit. I stood there long enough to remember I had a body beyond its usefulness to everyone else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">When I came out, Gerald was in the nursery with Maisie asleep against his chest. He looked up and said softly, &#8220;Take as long as you need.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">That didn&#8217;t fix everything. One sentence never does.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">I had a body beyond its usefulness to everyone else.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"adv\">\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvInTextBuilder_slot-wrapper___Oz3G\">\n<div class=\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"><span class=\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"Ad-Container AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf AdvSlots_adv-square-wrap__BxSU_\">\n<div class=\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\" data-slot-type=\"1\" data-position=\"in_article_1\" data-code=\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_01\">\n<div id=\"in_article_1-16\" class=\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">But my husband got up at night without being asked. He learned the routine. He stopped talking about\u00a0<a class=\"Link_link__PUK08 Link_link__kvrlb\" href=\"https:\/\/amomama.com\/535200-my-husband-accidentally-ruined-my-only.html\">what he couldn&#8217;t stand<\/a>\u00a0and started asking what I needed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">And I stopped apologizing for resting, for eating, and for showering like a human being in my own home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">So yes, my husband gave me four minutes and thought that was enough. His father gave him seven days and made sure it wasn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">In the end, Gerald learned that love does not hold a stopwatch. And any home that asks you to rush your humanity is a place that needs changing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"postComponents_blockquote__q4kp0 postComponents_alternative-view__bRnNf\">\n<p class=\"postComponents_paragraph__0OLfg\">Love does not hold a stopwatch.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Six weeks after giving birth, I was begging for a few minutes in the shower when my husband taped a timer to the door and told me I had four &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17844,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,22,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family","category-inspiration","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17846"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17848,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17846\/revisions\/17848"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}