Charisa Bossinakis
A man has branded his wife ‘lazy’ after taking two years maternity leave to raise their baby.
An anonymous father has written into the Daily Mail’s Agony Aunt column to seek advice about his ‘lazy’ wife who has given birth to their ‘wonderful son’.
“She always talked about going back to work after six months of maternity leave, which turned into a year, which then turned into 18 months… and two years later, here we are,” the husband said.
He added that while he understands those early months are vital for establishing a ‘bond’ between mother and son, he claims she now ‘can't be bothered to actually get up and do anything’.
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The man proceeded to say that his wife primarily watches TV all day and neglects household chores, adding she has ‘embraced a life of sheer laziness and doesn't want to give it up’.
Oh, he’s going in.
“She claims that childcare is so expensive that it would cost us more to have her back in a job, but at this point the extra cost would be worth it to me just to see her get off her butt and take some action,” he added.
However, best-selling author Jane Green offered her advice, alluding that something more might be going on.
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“[It] might it be possible that your wife is suffering from postpartum depression? I ask this because it seems that your wife post-childbirth is going through something more than, as you put it, sheer laziness,” she said.
Green offered thoughtful suggestions, including seeking a health care provider, writing: “Seeing her health care provider would be my first suggestion, for a complete blood panel.
"They can then work out a plan of action, whether it's seeing a counsellor or taking medication.”
She concluded that this issue is far more ‘normal’ than he would expect.
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According to Health Direct, postpartum depression can affect up to one in five new mothers.
Common symptoms include low mood, changes in sleep and appetite, and feelings of hopelessness.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, around 50 per cent of women suffering from this condition go undiagnosed.
“A lot of people think, oh, that’s just a problem for the mom and she’s just become a new mom and she’s sleep deprived, and that’s no big deal,” Jennifer Payne, a psychiatrist and researcher at the University of Virginia who co-authored a 2022 study on postpartum said, as per STAT.
“The reality is, it is a big deal — not only to her, it’s a big deal to the exposed children.”