While parenting is a two-person job, few would argue that at the end of the day, mother knows best.
Closed minded as that sounds, most mother's simply have a unique quality when it comes to parenting that very few fathers have.
Which isn't to say that there aren't devoted, loving fathers out there who are always there for their wives and children.
Sadly, there are also still plenty of dads out there who don't.
Redditor BeholdenToLife recently found herself taking over for her husband after he backed out of handling an all too common situation with their infant.
While the original poster (OP)'s husband didn't think much of this, the OP was more than a little concerned by his backing away without even so much as a second thought.
Even going on to tell her husband that she didn't trust him with their children.
Wondering if she was being too harsh, the OP took to the subReddit "Am I The A**hole" (AITA), where she asked fellow Redditors:
"AITA for telling my husband that I can't trust him with my children?"
The OP explained why a recent diaper change episode saw her all but completely loose trust in her husband.
"I (32 F[emale]) was cooking dinner and feeding the baby when my husband (33 M[ale]) came home with the toddler after picking him up from childcare and noticed he needed a nappy [diaper] change."
"He is a decent, modern-day dad who happily changes nappies so he went to do it as usual."
"I was finishing loading the dishwasher while still boiling water on the stove and watching the baby in his high chair when my husband called out because the toddler is crying due to severe nappy rash."
"I was hoping he could deal with it but he seemed to panic and just said he would stop."
"I went in and saw him closing a fresh nappy without having cleaned the toddler."
"I took over."
"Sure enough the nappy rash was bad - which is all the more reason to clean it properly and you can lather on the cream for healing."
"Once done, I went back to cooking the dinner while my husband sat on the couch with the toddler."
"I said I wasn't happy that he didn't handle that situation because it worries me if I am ever not here."
"What if I die?"
"What if I went out for a night?"
"How can I trust him to look after the kids if he can't even deal with such a basic task?"
"He then started saying, 'yeah well if I was a normal husband I wouldn't even be home from work yet and you would've had to do it anyway' then said something about it being a woman's job."
"Whilst I was offended by his comments, I said it was irrelevant because we weren't talking about gender roles, we were talking about whether he is capable of caring for the children if I'm not around."
"He brushed it off completely as not a big deal."
"I said that I found it horrible that he can't see that this is an issue or admit he was wrong."
"He then said "what I find horrible is that not 5 minutes after coming home I get yelled at and abused when all I was trying to do was help'."
"Am I the a**hole for thinking he should have been able to handle the situation? Or should I have been more supportive and helped without commenting?"
Fellow Redditors weighed in on where they believed the OP fell in this particular situation, by declaring:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You're The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
The Reddit community overwhelmingly agreed that the OP was not the a**hole for telling her husband she didn't trust him with her children.
Everyone agreed that if it wasn't already concerning enough that the OP refused to handle their child's diaper rash, his bemoaning that he wasn't a "normal husband" bordered on grounds for divorce:
"NTA."
"Dude really said 'if I was a normal husband, I wouldn't even be here' like that was some kind of flex."
"Sir, what?"
"You weren't yelling at him for needing help; you were concerned that he straight-up gave up mid-wipe and was about to leave your toddler marinating in their own disaster."
"That's a parenting red flag, not a 'husband getting nagged' moment."
"He doesn't have to be perfect, but at the bare minimum, he should be able to handle basic hygiene without tapping out like it's a UFC match."- eva_dreamer
"NTA."
"He hasn't been watching 'red pill' videos, has he?"
"Because he sounds like an AH."- rigbysgirl13
"NTA."
"If he's been a parent living with his kids since the older one was born, he should know by now how important getting the little one fully clean after a poop is."
"It becomes more important to get properly clean with active diaper rash, unpleasant though it may be for all involved."
"Instead of doing what is necessary, he tried to punt and leave the mess there for the next time you changed the toddler's diaper, either not knowing or not caring that he was allowing the rash to worsen by doing so."
"Both options (not knowing or not caring) are major problems."
"If he doesn't know, he's been willfully oblivious and chosen not to learn how to care for his own children."
"If he doesn't care, then he's choosing ease/convenience over meeting his child's basic physical needs."- KaliTheBlaze
"NTA."
"'He is a decent, modern-day dad who happily changes nappies so he went to do it as usual'."
"I don't think he is."
"I think he was masking as one to baby trap you."
"And now he is using weaponized incompetence to have you take over the gendered roles."
"Masking is unfortunately way too common this last decade."
"He then started saying, 'yeah well if I was a normal husband I wouldn't even be home from work yet and you would've had to do it anyway' then said something about it being a woman's job."
"This is his mask slipping."
"He wants special praise just for doing the basis stuff badly."- zgrssd
"Is it possible this is why the toddler has diaper rash?"
"If he's too lazy to properly clean the toddler WITH diaper rash- do you think he's done this before or gotten comfortable doing it when he's 'just trying to help' and doesn't think properly cleaning is necessary and just throws a new diaper on?"
"NTA."- Flashy_Anything_8596
"What I find horrible is that not 5 minutes after coming home, I get yelled at and abused when all I was trying to do was help."
"The word that stood out to me there is 'help'."
"He is not 'helping' you with your kids any more than you are 'helping' him with his kids."
"It's not helping you do your job - it's literally him doing his job as a dad."
"When dads describe themselves as 'helping" their wife when what they are actually doing is 'parenting' - it honestly makes me furious."
"NTA."
"But your misogynist husband sure is."- amymae
"NTA."
"'What I find horrible is that not 5 minutes after coming home I get yelled at and abused when all I was trying to do was help'."
"It's not help, because they are his children, therefore his responsibility as well."
"Others have said it already: he isn't modern, he pretty much seems to be stuck with old gender roles and not seeing his children as his responsibility."
"Fingers crossed his attitude and level of care will change."- oxytocinated
"NTA."
"Read your husband the riot act."
"Be clear to him, that you will not tolerate weaponized incompetence."
"He is their parent too."
"He needs to know how to take care of them."
"Period."
"This is not about your genders."
"Have him read You Should've Asked, a web comic about the mental load."
"Make sure the understands."- GreekAmericanDom
"Sounds to me like he doesn't 'happily' do any of this stuff... that he actually resents having to do what he thinks of as 'women's work' but he hides that most of the time."
"Which is pretty messed up in 2025."
"NTA."
"Dad needs to get his head right."
"He wasn't 'helping' - it's his damn job, and if he can't change a diaper properly he'd better learn, because parenting only gets harder from here."- Remarkable_Inchworm
"NTA."
"This is a toddler."
"You can not know how to change a nappy when your kids are newborn."
"Lots of people don't."
"Still not knowing what to do when they're toddlers is inexcusable."
"Seeing and hearing your child in distress and not caring enough to accept that you're wrong and wanting to learn what to do going forward is also inexcusable."
"Your husband sounds like a huge AH and a terrible husband and father."- Outrageous_Shirt_737
One can only wonder what the OP's husband meant by "normal husband".
From the sounds of it, it means the sort of husband who leaves for work, comes home, and expects his wife to wait on him hand and foot.
What might surprise the OP's husband and his antiquated beliefs, however, is that most "normal husbands" don't behave that way!
















New Mom Irate After Father-In-Law Ruins Her Birthday With 'Vulgar' Comment About Her Breasts
There's nothing quite like the feeling of going through all the work to prepare a fun celebration, just for someone to undo it with an unkind or gross comment.
That feeling just gets worse when it's your birthday, and that comment was made by someone who's supposed to care about you, sympathized the members of the "Am I Overreacting?" (AIO) subReddit.
Redditor Rude-Pepper-2389 had recently given birth and decided to have a special birthday celebration to reconnect with her loved ones after becoming a mom.
When her father-in-law stopped by unexpectedly and then made comments about her body, the Original Poster (OP) was left so uncomfortable that it ruined the whole celebration for her.
She asked the sub:
The OP wanted to have a special birthday celebration after her baby was born.
"I currently have a five-month-old and haven’t really been taking care of myself or dressing up since having the baby."
"It’s my (25 Female) birthday, and we were having friends over at our house for a private dinner to celebrate."
"My husband (24 Male) and I have been together since we were 18."
"I decided to put on this new silk shirt I got, which, admittedly, was low-cut, but I felt cute in it and felt comfortable around the friends we were having over."
Everything was fine until the OP's father-in-law (FIL) stopped by unexpectedly.
"My husband's dad decided to stop by on his way home from work."
"I will say, he was likely drunk. He works two hours away and proudly told my husband he's down to only four beers on his drive home each day... so, that's healthy."
"When he came in, I was on the couch with my baby propped up beside me, bottle feeding him. Keep in mind, I am not breastfeeding, so no, my breasts are not any larger right now."
"My husband's dad leaned down to look at the baby and then suddenly shouted, 'D**n, son, she could knock you out with those things in bed! Like cracking two coconuts together.'"
"This was fully and undoubtedly in reference to my breasts."
The OP was shocked by the comment and very uncomfortable.
"It made me deeply uncomfortable and embarrassed."
"I was so stunned, I couldn’t even process what he said to me, and our friends just stared at me, blinking."
"He’s a redneck, so he's said some pretty vulgar stuff over the years, but this just seems to take the cake, as it was the first time it was directed at me."
"When he stepped out, I told my husband he needed to speak to him, and that the comment wasn’t okay."
"I went to change clothes and decided to never ever wear that shirt again."
"When I brought it up to my husband, he said he didn't hear the comment at first, but then he laughed when I told him what he said. He's always laughed when he feels awkward and has always had a hard time standing up to his parents in any capacity."
"When he and my father-in-law spoke, my FIL just said, 'I shouldn’t have said that to her, I know how she can be,' which just feels even more like I’m just being dramatic."
"Since then, I think my husband just wants me to drop it and move on, truthfully."
The OP wasn't sure what to do after what happened.
"This genuinely ruined my entire night. Am I just too sensitive, or was this an inappropriate thing to say?"
"There's also been no apology since then. This happened on Thursday, and then my father-in-law came by again on Friday with flowers to wish me a happy Mother's Day before Mother's Day Sunday."
"I think that was his way of trying to just breeze past the awkwardness. He's never gotten me a gift the whole seven years I've known him, so the flowers were odd. But I still feel really uncomfortable."
Fellow Redditors weighed in:
Some reassured the OP that her father-in-law's comments were rude and just plain creepy.
"NOR at all. That was really rude of him. Anyone would be offended." - Bookbringer
"NOR. That’s firmly in the category of what should be an 'inside thought,' and we should learn what those are at a much younger age than this guy is."
"F**king h**l, this is an absolutely mental thing to say out loud, let alone to your daughter-in-law." - Electronic-Fennel828
"FIL is an AH. I love that you think his being a redneck excuses it, but d**n. Even rednecks should know better than to speak that way to their son's wife."
"What does your husband have to say? Does he understand how breath-takingly rude his father was, or is he Team 'That's Just How He Is'?"
"I'd go very low contact with the old perv. NOR, he put you in an uncomfortable position with his crude remark. Is he married? I'd tell the MIL. I'd tell the whole family. Yes, it's embarrassing, but he is the one who should be embarrassed. Don't accept his non-apology." - Top-Bit85
"Maybe I’m desensitized after having large breasts since I was 13 (I’m 28 now), but I let out a little snort based on how immature of a joke it was. I’d simply tell FIL, 'Yes, I know, my boobs are big,' and move on."
"That said, I would never make such a comment about another person's body. Just because I'm technically fine with it doesn't mean I assume anyone else is!"
"Not everyone is the same, and if OP felt uncomfortable, she’s NOR. Her body, her boundaries." - Both_Original2094
"I’m sorry. That’s upsetting. My father is like this with his father. Even if it’s very offensive comments, he’s uncomfortable and has problems confronting him. It sounds like your husband isn’t going to have a talk with him, which is hurtful."
"I would explain to your husband how uncomfortable the situation was for you and that it’s a serious matter, especially if it happens again. And if he still tries to brush it off, then I would tell him you no longer want your FIL coming to your home."
"It’s your life, too, and he’s not the one being hurt here, you are." - w_coastultraviolence
Others were specifically angry about the tactics the father-in-law used to try to get out of trouble.
"Seriously? Saying 'I know how she can be' is a classic way to blame the victim for having boundaries. It’s your birthday, not a Hooters convention. What a creep. If he can’t look at the baby without checking out your breast, he shouldn't be invited to the house." - Specific_Parsnip3264
"'I know how she can be' is so f**ked up. He's the one being a disgusting person. You need to shine up your husband's spine to properly call him out at the time next time, because there will be a next time." - dancepantz
"The bit that pisses me off the most is, 'I know how she can be,' which is his way of making it her problem that she doesn't like her FiL sexualising her in front of her friends." - Outside-Partait-8935
"The 'joke' comment is gross, but that follow-up comment is infuriating. NOR, OP. But this guy will be in your life for a while, so firmly & calmly shutting this stuff down is completely appropriate."
"I'd wear the d**n shirt again to the next family function and look him right in the eyes next time!" - RationalFish
"When we let things like this slide for others, it's not long before it ends up on our doorstep, and of course, nobody says anything because keeping the peace is the norm. It doesn't have to be getting into their face and yelling abuse back. Just a comment such as, 'Well, that's super tacky to say,' or asking them why they'd say that." - Kattnapped
"The OP said, 'He's said some pretty vulgar stuff over the years... but this is the first time it was directed to me.'"
"Normalise calling stuff out when they are talking about others, and they won't feel so comfortable saying it to you."
"It's a gross thing for him to say, but I guess him buying you flowers is his way of saying sorry."
"Sounds like you are in the situation of a lot of new mothers, where you suddenly realise this stuff matters because you want better influences for your child, and better support for yourself. NOR." - Jumpy-Jello-
Now, about that shirt...
"Please re-think your decision to never wear the cute shirt again, girl!! It's something that you liked very much because it made you feel good about yourself. Don't let some backwoods id**t ruin that for you."
"Wear that shirt till it's worn out and can't be worn anymore!! You should be able to feel good about yourself in whatever you like to wear."
"Your husband should have immediately checked his father, not waited until he was told to do so after his father left the room. In front of everyone there, your husband should have told his father not to ever speak about you or to you in that kind of manner, and if his father doesn't like it, he knows where the door is."
"Hubby should have called him out for his response as well. You did absolutely nothing wrong. You were not the problem; his dad was. This comes down to your husband needing to protect his wife, and he didn't do that." - Lynzo141982
"If he is a redneck, like you said, he won't outright apologize, but flowers are his way of saying sorry."
"I hope he won't say anything again, or else you can expect a nicely tended garden for at least a year."
"About your top, I hope you can wear it again. It takes a lot to feel cute, being a new mum."
"If not, get some fabric dye, dye the top a different color, and embroider a flower on it. This makes the top new, different, and every time you wear it, you can use the mantra ... I'm cute, I don't care what anyone says."
"You've got this!!" - No_Kangaroo_6637
Even if the father-in-law was joking and meant no harm, this is one of those situations where he needs to admit that his joke did not land well, he did cause harm, and he needs to apologize. Just because some people enjoy joking in that manner does not mean that everyone will be comfortable with it, and it's important to respect everyone's boundaries and zones of comfort.