After our wedding, my husband eagerly anticipated the arrival of our son. However, soon after, our lives took an unexpected turn, and everything seemed to be turned upside down.

After our wedding, my husband eagerly anticipated the birth of our son. Eight years passed before our son arrived. Throughout this time, our focus was on achieving financial stability, avoiding debt, and advancing in our careers. I vividly recall Andriy’s excitement during my pregnancy—he was involved in every stage and expressed a desire to be present during childbirth, although quarantine restrictions prevented it.

During the first week after our son’s birth, Andriy was an attentive father, even taking time off work to be with us. However, six months later, there was a noticeable shift. Andriy began to withdraw from his parental responsibilities. His initial enthusiasm waned, and he started preferring solitude over family time. Whenever conflicts arose, he attributed his behavior to work fatigue. Unfortunately, our families sided with him, asserting that childcare was solely my responsibility since he was the primary breadwinner.

Despite assurances from my mother that Andriy’s behavior would change, I felt our family unraveling with each passing day. Our conversations devolved into arguments or icy silences. I began to question whether this was the family life we had envisioned and if Andriy truly valued our presence.