I recently became a parent with my husband, Owen. We were thrilled to welcome our baby into the world, and our families supported us every step of the way. Although the pregnancy went smoothly, the birth was more painful than I expected. Owen’s reaction to my pain during childbirth surprised me, as he made remarks about my screams.

Sitting across from Owen in our dimly lit living room, our newborn son, Liam, sleeping nearby, I felt a mix of emotions. It had only been a week since we were in the hospital, me in labor and Owen by my side. Yet, I couldn’t shake the memory. Gathering my thoughts and courage, I broached the subject of our childbirth experience.

“Owen,” I began, keeping my voice steady but gentle, “we need to talk about what happened at the hospital.” His eyes met mine, a hint of uncertainty in them. He nodded, signaling for me to continue. “Do you remember when you asked me to stop screaming during labor? You said I was embarrassing you.”

He shifted uncomfortably, acknowledging his actions. “Yes, I remember,” he replied, defensively yet with a trace of regret.

Taking a deep breath, I continued, my voice growing firmer. “I want you to understand how your words made me feel,” I explained. “I was in immense pain, Owen. I was bringing our child into the world, and all you could think about was your own discomfort.”

His response wasn’t what I had hoped for. Instead of empathy or an apology, Owen’s face hardened, and he responded angrily. “It’s a woman’s duty to obey her husband, and you could have been quieter during labor!” he retorted. His tone caught me off guard, coming from my typically caring husband.

His words filled me with disbelief and anger. How could he, the man I loved and the father of my child, be so insensitive? Beneath the anger, I sensed embarrassment and insecurity. This wasn’t the partnership I had envisioned when we vowed to support each other through life’s challenges.

“Owen,” I said, my voice trembling with emotion, “do you truly believe that? That my pain and effort should be silenced to spare you discomfort?”

He remained silent, and for the first time, I couldn’t decipher his thoughts.

Disgusted by his response, I left the room and spent the rest of the day in the main bedroom with Liam, locking the door to keep Owen out. I only emerged when I heard him leave to meet friends in the evening.

That day gave me clarity about Owen’s character. I saw a side of him I hadn’t seen before, and I wasn’t pleased. While I still loved him, I needed to assert myself as more than just his subordinate. I used the time alone to plan how to change our dynamic with the help of my family.

A week later, Owen and I joined my family for dinner. Though Owen seemed nervous, he knew the dinner held deeper significance. Unaware of our tension, my family warmly welcomed us, their love filling the room.

As we sat down to eat, I asked my sisters to share their childbirth experiences. I wanted Owen to hear stories of supportive partners and compare them to our own.

Listening quietly, Owen’s demeanor shifted from stubbornness to attentive reflection. I could see the impact of their words, the realization dawning on him.