'Get on With Her Job': Internet Slams Man's Response to 'Unappreciated' Stay-at-Home Wife

One man's attitude toward his stay-at-home wife's request for appreciation has sparked outrage on social media. Documented in a Wednesday Reddit post, the anonymous husband's story has generated viral levels of engagement, with individual comments surpassing tens of thousands of upvotes.

The issue is one likely familiar to many readers: according to Parents magazine, the number of stay-at-home parents across the country has risen by 60 percent since 2019, due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The post shared in Reddit's "Am I The A**hole" forum, was written by an anonymous 36-year-old man known only as u/Particular-Willow-17. He reportedly works a full-time job, while his 32-year-old wife is a stay-at-home mom to their twins, aged two.

The arrangement was one they reportedly agreed upon after getting married. "We were both in agreement and my wife made it clear she wanted to enjoy seeing our kids grow up," he wrote. "I make a good wage so we are comfortable."

The man works from home, typically between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. "Once I finish work, I go and spend time with the twins while my wife makes dinner. We put them to bed together and my wife usually clears up in the kitchen," he explained. "She is great at her job and the house is spotless. I am happy with this arrangement and I thought my wife was too."

However, his wife recently expressed dissatisfaction with aspects of her role, "saying that she [felt] burned out, unappreciated and taken for granted."

When he asked if there was anything he could do to help, she "said that it would be nice if [he] did something now and again to show that [he] appreciated her," such as "buying her [favorite] bar of chocolate...as a gesture of appreciation."

"I'll admit that I didn't do this, purely because I am not in the habit to be honest," he said.

Rather than improving, things soon escalated into "a massive argument" in which the man's wife said she was fed up with being "treated like a servant."

In response, he reportedly told her: "I understand it's a tough job but we both get on with our respective roles."

"I never ask her to thank me for making money, I think that's cringeworthy," he continued. "I get on with my job because I have to provide for my family whereas she wants presents and treats for doing her job."

Viewers were quick to criticize the man behind the post, instead offering their support to his "unappreciated" wife.

"It sounds like she is working harder than you, but that isn't even the point," said u/Temporary_Badger in a top-liked comment. "Appreciating her and showing her you love her is part of being a decent husband."

"When does she get to relax? Has she gotten any time off since the twins were born? Have you offered to take care of your own kids for the weekend so she can have some time to herself?" wondered u/abook-aday131. "I'm guessing no."

"Just because you're the breadwinner doesn't mean that you get out of parenting and housework," added u/Proscuitto1.

Newsweek reached out to u/Particular-Willow-17 for comment.