When Daniel offered to stay home with our baby so I could return to work, I thought I’d struck gold. He made it sound easy — feed the baby, nap, fold laundry. “Piece of cake,” he said, flashing that confident grin. So, I agreed, even though I knew parenting wasn’t exactly a spa day. At first, it looked like he had it all under control. Photos of smiling Cody, clean laundry, homemade meals — everything seemed perfect.

Each evening, I’d return to a spotless home and a calm baby. Daniel would beam and say, “See? Told you it was easy.” I almost believed him. That is, until Linda, his mom, called. “Just wondering,” she said, “how long do you need me to keep helping Daniel?” Confused, I asked what she meant. Turns out, she had been over every day — cooking, cleaning, handling Cody — while Daniel played superdad for the camera.

Furious but strategic, I suggested a plan: she’d stop helping, cold turkey. The next day, Linda called in “sick,” and Daniel unraveled. I walked in that evening to pure chaos — a crying baby, spaghetti on the floor, Daniel looking like he’d lost a war. “Thought this was easy?” I teased. Day two brought a diaper disaster; day three, total surrender.

Eventually, Daniel admitted the truth — he hated his job and used the stay-at-home offer as an escape. He lied, expecting backup. But he learned his lesson the hard way.

He found new work, and we got childcare. Now, we parent with respect — and teamwork.