When my pregnant daughter Jane discovered her credit card maxed out on her jobless husband Mark’s indulgent massages, her world collapsed. Determined to teach him a lesson, I took him on a weekend trip he wouldn’t forget, turning expected leisure into a grueling wake-up call about responsibility.
It was a quiet Saturday morning when my phone rang. I saw my daughter Jane’s name on the screen and answered quickly.
“Dad, I can’t take it anymore,” she sobbed.
“Jane, calm down. What’s going on?” I asked, feeling a knot of worry tighten in my stomach.
“It’s Mark,” she cried. “He stole my credit card and maxed it out… on massages!”
My blood boiled. “He did what? While you’re working full-time and pregnant?”
“Yes,” she cried. “I went to buy baby essentials, and the cashier told me my card was declined. I checked my statement, and there it was—four charges of $250 each. All for his massages.”
I felt a surge of anger. How could he be so selfish? “I’ll be over there in an hour,” I said, grabbing my keys.
As I drove to Jane’s apartment, I reflected on everything she’d been through. A few months ago, she told me about Mark losing his job. They had to move from their beautiful home into a small apartment.
Jane had sold many of their possessions, including her jewelry, just to make ends meet. She was working full-time despite being pregnant. I couldn’t fathom how Mark could be so irresponsible.
When I arrived, Jane was still in tears. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she looked exhausted. “He’s out, probably getting another massage,” she said bitterly.
I sat her down on the couch. “We need to talk. Tell me everything.”
She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’ve been working so hard, Dad. I thought he’d stop the massages, but he refused. He says they help with his ‘stress.’ But what about my stress, Dad? I’m the one working full-time while pregnant!”
Over the next few weeks, Mark kept his promise. He found part-time work and took on more responsibilities at home. The experience at the cottage had changed him, teaching him the value of hard work and the importance of supporting his family.
And as for me, I knew I had done the right thing, not just for Jane, but for their future family. Sometimes, a tough lesson is necessary to bring about real change.
Leave a Reply