Wife Demanding 'Exhausted' Dad Wakes Up and Cares for Their Kids Slammed

People have rushed to back a man who yelled at his wife because she woke him up to help care for their kids.

In a viral post on Reddit, user u/sayejav explained how things had come to a head at his home with his wife Sonia and their two children aged 7 and 5.

With his wife as a stay-at-home-mom, the dad works full-time and explained: "I really try to help with the kids when I get home, I know being SAHM [stay-at-home mom] is pretty tiring even though she has part-time off from school, but help with homework, making food and taking care of kids can be exhausting. When I get home, I make dinner, wash the dishes and stay with our children for a while so she can have her moment too."

But recently, the man explained that he had been very busy with work and had been working long hours: "I went to work at 8 am, got home at 5 pm, took care of my kids until 9 pm, and was actually working until 3 or 4 am. To maybe get 3 or 4 hours of sleep. So if I slept 12 hours in 5 days it was a lot."

Exhausted, he shared how he wasn't even driving because he did not trust his senses. But his wife Sonia was suffering from the flu and also needed support.

"I was dragged to the hospital by my co-workers after nearly passing out for only walking," explained the poster: "The doctor demanded that I take a week's medical leave because I was already on the verge of a burnout."

When he arrived home, he told his wife what had happened and she seemed to understand. She agreed to give him a day off from any housekeeping or childcare too so that he could rest.

Family law attorney Sabrina Shaheen Cronin, founder and managing partner of The Cronin Law Firm, told Newsweek: "Being a parent is stressful, no matter the situation. Although couples are on the journey together, it can be easy to become frustrated with your partner if you ever feel as though your needs are not being met. Specifically, if one parent feels as though they are pulling all of the weight, even if only for a short amount of time, they may be more likely to lash out."

"I went to sleep at 9 pm and woke up to Sonia nudging me to take the kids to school," the poster said: "I talked about what we talked about yesterday and she said 'Yeah, but that's your part of the morning and I have other morning plans,' yoga class, gym, and house cleaning."

At this point, an argument began: "I was still exhausted," he said: "But she just said, 'you're still a father, tired or not.'"

"I ended up losing my mind and screaming, 'I just need a few hours of sleep,' she was in shock and said ok then. She took the kids and I slept until 4 pm," explained the Redditor.

"Couples who are doing their very best to support their families will often lose sight of how important it is to care for themselves and their spouse. Whenever one partner feels overwhelmed or unseen, it can lead to disagreements that miss the root problem: they need a break," said Cronin: "No one person is perfect, and when communication is lacking, it can seem like there is no one in your corner."

But several hours later, his wife had messaged telling him that he should not have yelled and that his behavior was toxic.

Having barely spoken since the argument, the man turned to the internet to ask Reddit's AITA [Am I the a**hole] forum?

After reading the story and understanding what had happened, internet users were quick to side with the man: "Given the context, NTA. A doctor literally ordered you to rest. Your wife agreed to help you," said one reply.

Another Redditor wrote: "It sounds like she has unfair expectations of you. You were literally sick and she wanted to do yoga. You may apologize to her for yelling, but you standing your ground was not toxic."

"Your spouse is your teammate, your partner. Parents have to support each other, respect each other's beliefs, play to each other's strengths and collaborate using their combined efforts towards raising their children," explained Cronin: "Effective communication is imperative not only between the parents, but also among the entire family, from the top down. Remember this is not a competition. You two are a team and are to be working together to do all you can to achieve what is in the best interests of your children."

Newsweek reached out to u/sayejav for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.