One evening after a long day’s work, a husband returned home and sat in his favorite spot on the sofa to watch a football game. He noticed his wife trying to comfort their crying son while their two-year-old daughter ran around the hall making a mess with her toys. Because of all the noise, the husband increased the volume of the television!

“You know, it wouldn’t kill you to help me out a little!” his wife screamed at him,” she said as she walked over and turned down the TV volume. He was enraged and retaliated, saying, “I’ve been slaving at work all day, and what have you been doing?” You’ve been staying at home with the kids. Give me a break and let me watch TV alone! ”

The wife replied, “No more,” as this was most likely not the first time they had argued. She escorted the kids to their rooms and put them to bed. She then packed her suitcase and left the house without her husband noticing because he was too focused on the game. Her husband later went upstairs and discovered that his wife was nowhere to be found. She did not answer her phone and left no message.

The next morning, she still hadn’t returned home, so the husband had to call into work and explain that he couldn’t make it that day because he had to care for the kids. He had to prepare meals for them and clean up after them. He also had to keep them entertained or they’d scream from boredom or being ignored. He had to chase after them all day and clean up around the house, and at night he had to coax them to sleep.

His wife did not leave any indication of when she would return, so he had to call his workplace again and tell them he couldn’t work the next day as well. He wrote this open letter and posted it online two days later.

To my dear wife, Two days ago we had an argument. It was around 8 pm, I came home from work exhausted and I just wanted to zone out in front of the TV and watch some football. You looked tired and it seemed like you were in a bad mood and I could not understand why. You had your hands full because you were carrying Evan and Leia was running around making a mess. I didn’t want to deal with all that and raised the volume of the TV.

Now I understand that I have gravely underestimated what you do for this house. What you do to care for our children and also to care for me. I cannot fathom the amount of strength and patience you have because you had to deal with this by yourself because I was not of much help to you. I felt confined to the house. I spend every waking moment looking after the kids and at the same time I had to do the chores.

I’ve been on my feet the whole time and I have not spoken to a person above the age of 5 in the past two days. I feel mentally and physically drained. I cannot begin to imagine how you’ve been doing this for years now. After just two days of this, I feel like I need to sleep for the next 20 hours to recuperate. But that is never going to happen because Evan wakes me up every three hours, crying to be fed.

I now understand why you were so frustrated with me, I am frustrated with myself for not helping you when I could. I now know the sacrifices you have made. My exhaustion from work cannot compare to what you go through on a daily basis. I realize you had to give up your career not because you wanted to but because there was no other choice, I would never have given my job up. You do all this without even getting paid and without recognition.

I know you’ve sacrificed a great deal, you could no longer hang out with your friends, go to the gym or even sleep peacefully at night because being a housewife is a 24/7 job. I have never appreciated you for the incredible woman that you are. I am writing this letter to tell you I miss you and I also want you to know that you are irreplaceable. I will forever be indebted to you for giving up what you had in order to this home and this family. With love.

Couples need to talk to each other and learn to empathize with one another so they will not take their partners for granted