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“Finally Snapped”: Woman Can’t Handle Husband’s Incompetence, Stops Taking Care Of Him
Woman looking stressed and frustrated, holding her head with both hands, illustrating chaos in a relationship.

“Finally Snapped”: Woman Can’t Handle Husband’s Incompetence, Stops Taking Care Of Him

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Traditional gender roles often portray women as the primary nurturers. And based on a belief many consider outdated, wives are expected to take care of their husbands, who, in turn, are expected to provide for the family

Such arrangements can be problematic, especially when the woman begins to coddle her man to the point where he relies on her for literally everything. It’s the exact story you’re about to read, where the lady described her spouse as a “preschooler who suddenly stops because he sees an interesting rock.” 

Scroll through to read the entire text and see how this unfolded. 

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    Woman focused on planning and writing in a notebook, illustrating change in how she treats her husband with chaos ensuing.

    Image credits:  Karolina Grabowska / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

    But between this couple, the wife realized she had been coddling her husband

    Text excerpt discussing a woman realizing she was momming her husband and addressing gendered expectations in marriage dynamics.

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    Text excerpt discussing a woman reflecting on unintentionally becoming the planner in her relationship, relating to chaos.

    Woman managing chaos as she stops treating her husband like a kid, showing frustration and confusion in a home setting.

    Alt text: Woman stops treating husband like a kid, leading to unexpected chaos during their planned visit and spontaneous detours.

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    Text excerpt showing a woman stops treating her husband like a kid causing chaos and frustration due to lateness.

    Woman and husband stand apart with arms crossed in kitchen, showing tension after she stops treating him like a kid.

    Image credits: cookie_studio / freepik (not the actual photo)

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    She shared exact instances when her man couldn’t seem to function without her doing the most basic things for him

    Text excerpt showing a woman stops treating her husband like a kid causing confusion during a pub pickup.

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    Woman stops treating husband like a kid, frustration grows as he drags feet and gets distracted during plans.

    Text excerpt showing a woman stating she stopped managing her husband’s punctuality or organizing tasks for him.

    Text excerpt about a woman who stops treating her husband like a kid, leading to him being late and chaos ensuing.

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    Woman stops treating her husband like a kid, feeling stressed and overwhelmed while holding her temples indoors.

    Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

    The woman finally snapped and saw the cracks in their relationship

    Text on a white background about stepping back and realizing invisible tasks and treating husband with momming habits due to gender roles.

    Text showing a woman expressing frustration as she stops treating her husband like a kid, urging him to act like an adult.

    Image credits: anon

    Many who allow themselves to be “mothered” by their wives are rooted in their learned roles

    There is no question that the husband should man up and carry his end of the couch, so to speak. His wife, after all, is not his mother or caretaker, and continuing the cycle would only do more harm to their relationship. 

    However, part of his behavior is also due to the learned roles between men and women. As psychotherapist William Berry explains, it all goes back to the mother-child dynamic, in which the mother takes on the day-to-day caregiving responsibilities, such as making doctor appointments, cooking, and checking to ensure everything is running smoothly. 

    Fathers, on the other hand, are associated with play. And as Berry noted, it’s a trait he may embody as he enters relationships with women. According to him, the same mother-child dynamic may repeat, even through marriage. 

    “(Wives) may encourage less play (hanging out with friends, heavy drinking) and behave in a more grown-up fashion,” Berry wrote, adding that many men may express discontent over how their significant others “had fun” before marriage, then suddenly took on the adult role after tying the knot. 

    Berry says throwing blame may not help, as he encourages focusing on having a clear understanding of the roots of their behaviors, then addressing them with compassion and dialogue. Mom blogger Mellissa Edgington shared a similar sentiment, along with actionable tips to address such a problem. 

    “Tell him that you are worried that he feels you treat him like a child, and that’s the very last way you want him to feel because you respect and honor him as the love of your life,” she wrote.  

    However, the woman had grown fed up with her husband’s refusal to “adult up,” which is understandable. At that point, her other option was to put her foot down and set boundaries, which is another way to handle the situation. 

    People lauded the woman for how she handled the situation

    Screenshot of a social media comment praising a woman who stops treating her husband like a kid and stands up for herself.

    Comment expressing annoyance about a husband’s reaction after his wife stops treating him like a kid.

    Woman stops treating her husband like a kid, asserting boundaries and encouraging accountability in their relationship.

    Commenter questioning time blindness in a casual online discussion about relationship dynamics and chaos ensuing.

    Screenshot of an online comment encouraging confidence after a woman stops treating her husband like a kid, leading to chaos.

    User comment on a social media post about relationship dynamics, reflecting on embarrassment and being single.

    Comment discussing husband's reaction after woman stops treating him like a kid, leading to chaos in their relationship.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment sharing a humorous take on the chaos when a woman stops treating her husband like a kid.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing chaos after a woman stops treating her husband like a kid, highlighting irresponsibility.

    Others shared similar experiences

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment about managing a grown adult after a woman stops treating her husband like a kid.

    Comment discussing the challenges faced by a woman trying to stop treating her husband like a kid, highlighting relationship struggles.

    Comment from user discussing challenges faced when a woman stops treating her husband like a kid, leading to relationship chaos and conflict.

    Woman stops treating husband like a kid, causing frustration as he insists on carrying many items and gets upset when she sets boundaries.

    Reddit user shares how stress decreased after stopping treating husband like a kid, leading to unexpected chaos in their relationship.

    Woman stops treating her husband like a kid, leading to unexpected chaos and tension in their relationship.

    Woman stops treating husband like a kid, leading to frustration and chaos in their daily routine and communication.

    Text message conversation showing a woman deciding not to treat her husband like a kid by no longer waiting for him.

    Commenter shares thoughts on relationship dynamics after a woman stops treating her husband like a kid.

    Comment discussing relationship dynamics after a woman stops treating her husband like a kid, leading to chaos.

    Woman stops treating her husband like a kid, leading to unexpected chaos and changes in their relationship dynamics.

    Text post discussing emotional impact when a woman stops treating her husband like a kid and chaos ensues.

    Text showing a woman stops treating her husband like a kid, hoping he starts to show he cares in their relationship.

    Commenter discussing the impact of stopping treating husband like a kid and dealing with resulting chaos in relationships.

    Comment expressing frustration about intertwined responsibilities after a woman stops treating her husband like a kid.

    Text post showing a woman describing chaos after she stops treating her husband like a kid.

    Text post expressing frustration with emotional labor and dealing with husband’s behavior after woman stops treating him like a kid

    Woman stops treating husband like a kid, struggles with couples therapy and managing family challenges causing chaos in their relationship.

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

    Mantas Kačerauskas

    Mantas Kačerauskas

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

    Read less »

    Mantas Kačerauskas

    Mantas Kačerauskas

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

    Shelly Fourer

    Shelly Fourer

    Author, Community member

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    Hey there! I'm Shelly, a Visual Editor at Bored Panda

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    Shelly Fourer

    Shelly Fourer

    Author, Community member

    Hey there! I'm Shelly, a Visual Editor at Bored Panda

    What do you think ?
    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When people say relationships are work, this is what they mean. You have to reflect on patterns of behaviour and keep yourself honest and communicate what you want and need to your partner as well as what's already good. That vigilance takes work and takes practice it's easy to default to bad habits.

    Nia
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    This comment has been deleted.

    Load More Replies...
    Jac Carr
    Community Member
    1 week ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Men pull this stuff thinking they're getting away with doing the boring things they don't want to do. What it's actually doiing is proving to your wife/girlfriend that she's dating a teenage boy and I 100% guarantee you that she'll check out of the relationship. No sane adult woman wants to be intimate with a "man" who has behaved like a child all day

    Alexandra
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just learned a new verb, 'momming'. I'm going to use it :)

    Zig Zag Wanderer
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In our relationship we try to share as much as possible . I admit to doing less, because I'm not good at a lot of things, but anything my partner doesn't like doing, I'll make an extra effort to do instead. It should be about sharing responsibility. As OP admits, she hadn't forced that, and she needed to. I'd love to se an update .

    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My ma said she never had to worry about me and relationships because I attract good people, and the more Reddit I read, the more I realize she was right. I’ve NEVER dealt with a man like this; they always took care of themselves and I took care of myself. (I sometimes wonder, though, whether age was a factor, as I’ve never dated a man older than 12-20 years younger than me.) But the women? They’re all over the place, and this one reminded me of a girl I dated who was 35 and getting out of a seven-year marriage to a man when she decided she was a lesbian after all. She asked me whether it was alright with me if she “expressed her masculine side” with me (she wanted to dress, walk, wear her hair, and “talk” like a man, though that last one sure was spotty!), and I agreed wholeheartedly and kept my reservations to herself. Ironically, she complained about her ex-husband being like the thoughtless jerks in this article,

    Zig Zag Wanderer
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm surprised by the downvotes. My current relationship is ALL about appreciation . We are both recently from relationships where we were not appreciated for several reasons. We now both take an effort to express oir appreciation, even for little things. It is very uplifting.

    Load More Replies...
    tw 72
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When an adult/adult relationship becomes a parent/child relationship, it generally kills all s****l attraction.

    Power puff scientist
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't know if this is really a gender issue. This sounds like a very specific issue for this dude. It seems more of a some people are organized and punctual and some people are not.

    The_Nicest_Misanthrope
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Of the 3 major relationships I've had in my life, 2 of them were exactly like this (the one who wasn't cheated on me, so there you go). I'm now determined to die a happy dog spinster. 👍

    Lady Eowyn
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Crystal, when are you going to get it through your thick skull that not everything is the parents' fault?

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I flinched when I read that because that's my name IRL XD I keep forgetting! (and yes, it bothers me a little that she and I "share" a name, lol.)

    Load More Replies...
    Jonas Fisher
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'll toss a little chum into the water: I'm a husband, and my wife does far more of the mental work than I do. But...it's because that work was taken away from me. When we first married, we combined finances (whatever works for you is fine; this is what works for us). I had a meticulous system for keeping track of bills, so I offered to continue doing so. No secrets, just spreadsheets and a place for receipts. Sometime during year two, I noticed she was doing it, too. I asked why. Was I doing it wrong? No. Was I being withholding? No. She just wasn't going to be confident about money if she wasn't adding things up. So, I told her it could be her thing, and I'd find something else. No sense in both of us doing it. That played out again and again. Listen: I'm very self-sufficient, but she's a touch neurotic. Why duplicate the labor? I trust her.

    Crystalwitch60
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    This would be a parent issue !, them not teaching their son,s respect for women , I very much taught both my son n daughter manners respect ,n how to do all the household stuff , birth can cook from scratch , can paint wallpaper , lay carpets n flooring do own washing , when I get asked why I’ve been single 14 yrs to as it happens ( 23nov ) I l ways say I’ve got two kids I do not need an adult one ! this bloke clearly had stupid parents ,n I’m 20 yrs older than ops husband ,so totally diff upbringing ,lol WELL DONE OP , you got this !! X

    darcy smith
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    you lost me the second you said 'heterosexual marriages' and 'parents generation' I couldn't be bothered to read the rest.'

    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People in other than hetero relationships have often put more thought into gender roles. Once you start deconstructing s****l prejudices it's not that far out of the way to take a hard look at the rest of societal norms.

    Load More Replies...
    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When people say relationships are work, this is what they mean. You have to reflect on patterns of behaviour and keep yourself honest and communicate what you want and need to your partner as well as what's already good. That vigilance takes work and takes practice it's easy to default to bad habits.

    Nia
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    This comment has been deleted.

    Load More Replies...
    Jac Carr
    Community Member
    1 week ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Men pull this stuff thinking they're getting away with doing the boring things they don't want to do. What it's actually doiing is proving to your wife/girlfriend that she's dating a teenage boy and I 100% guarantee you that she'll check out of the relationship. No sane adult woman wants to be intimate with a "man" who has behaved like a child all day

    Alexandra
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just learned a new verb, 'momming'. I'm going to use it :)

    Zig Zag Wanderer
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In our relationship we try to share as much as possible . I admit to doing less, because I'm not good at a lot of things, but anything my partner doesn't like doing, I'll make an extra effort to do instead. It should be about sharing responsibility. As OP admits, she hadn't forced that, and she needed to. I'd love to se an update .

    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My ma said she never had to worry about me and relationships because I attract good people, and the more Reddit I read, the more I realize she was right. I’ve NEVER dealt with a man like this; they always took care of themselves and I took care of myself. (I sometimes wonder, though, whether age was a factor, as I’ve never dated a man older than 12-20 years younger than me.) But the women? They’re all over the place, and this one reminded me of a girl I dated who was 35 and getting out of a seven-year marriage to a man when she decided she was a lesbian after all. She asked me whether it was alright with me if she “expressed her masculine side” with me (she wanted to dress, walk, wear her hair, and “talk” like a man, though that last one sure was spotty!), and I agreed wholeheartedly and kept my reservations to herself. Ironically, she complained about her ex-husband being like the thoughtless jerks in this article,

    Zig Zag Wanderer
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm surprised by the downvotes. My current relationship is ALL about appreciation . We are both recently from relationships where we were not appreciated for several reasons. We now both take an effort to express oir appreciation, even for little things. It is very uplifting.

    Load More Replies...
    tw 72
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When an adult/adult relationship becomes a parent/child relationship, it generally kills all s****l attraction.

    Power puff scientist
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't know if this is really a gender issue. This sounds like a very specific issue for this dude. It seems more of a some people are organized and punctual and some people are not.

    The_Nicest_Misanthrope
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Of the 3 major relationships I've had in my life, 2 of them were exactly like this (the one who wasn't cheated on me, so there you go). I'm now determined to die a happy dog spinster. 👍

    Lady Eowyn
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Crystal, when are you going to get it through your thick skull that not everything is the parents' fault?

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I flinched when I read that because that's my name IRL XD I keep forgetting! (and yes, it bothers me a little that she and I "share" a name, lol.)

    Load More Replies...
    Jonas Fisher
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'll toss a little chum into the water: I'm a husband, and my wife does far more of the mental work than I do. But...it's because that work was taken away from me. When we first married, we combined finances (whatever works for you is fine; this is what works for us). I had a meticulous system for keeping track of bills, so I offered to continue doing so. No secrets, just spreadsheets and a place for receipts. Sometime during year two, I noticed she was doing it, too. I asked why. Was I doing it wrong? No. Was I being withholding? No. She just wasn't going to be confident about money if she wasn't adding things up. So, I told her it could be her thing, and I'd find something else. No sense in both of us doing it. That played out again and again. Listen: I'm very self-sufficient, but she's a touch neurotic. Why duplicate the labor? I trust her.

    Crystalwitch60
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    This would be a parent issue !, them not teaching their son,s respect for women , I very much taught both my son n daughter manners respect ,n how to do all the household stuff , birth can cook from scratch , can paint wallpaper , lay carpets n flooring do own washing , when I get asked why I’ve been single 14 yrs to as it happens ( 23nov ) I l ways say I’ve got two kids I do not need an adult one ! this bloke clearly had stupid parents ,n I’m 20 yrs older than ops husband ,so totally diff upbringing ,lol WELL DONE OP , you got this !! X

    darcy smith
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    you lost me the second you said 'heterosexual marriages' and 'parents generation' I couldn't be bothered to read the rest.'

    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    1 week ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People in other than hetero relationships have often put more thought into gender roles. Once you start deconstructing s****l prejudices it's not that far out of the way to take a hard look at the rest of societal norms.

    Load More Replies...
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