“We Really Should Have Prepared for the Baby’s Arrival Sooner! – My Unforgettable Hospital Discharge: My Husband Left Everything Till the Last Minute, the House Was a Mess, and Nothing Was Ready for Our Newborn—Should I Blame Him, My Family, or Myself?”

You should have got everything ready for the baby sooner!

My leaving the hospital was rather unusual. My husband was at work, and collected me straight from his office. Id begged him to take leave or ask for some time off, but his manager refused. Id asked him to get everything organised for the babys arrival, and he swore up and down hed sort it all. If only wed got the washing done ahead of time, bought the essentials and put the flat in order but as it was! said thirty-year-old Agnes with a sigh.

So, did he break his promise?

I went into hospital completely unprepared. When I returned home, what greeted me was chaos. I felt mortified in front of my family, who had turned up to visit. There was so much dust I could have traced patterns on the shelves. There wasnt a pram, nor a baby dresser, and he hadnt even bothered to buy any baby clothes. Thank goodness for my friends, who brought over nappies, continued Agnes.

Agnes had married six years ago. Now, she and her husband were finally parents. Theyd put off having a child for years, waiting to get their finances in order. Once things improved, she decided it was time to start their family.

I told my boss I was pregnant, and was sacked on the spot. Some people might have fought for their rights, but I took it as a sign. I calmly got ready for motherhood, embroidered a little, and enjoyed my free time. We didnt really need the money, since my husband had just been promoted, she explained.

Her pregnancy was smooth. The expectant mum would read, go on long walks, and slowly pick out items for the baby.

My husband insisted I shouldnt buy anything until after the birth. People say its best to wait, he kept telling me. My sister promised shed give us a baby dresser and a cot, and even put aside some extra bits for us. She asked me to collect and wash it all in advance, but I was told I could only pack my hospital bag and do nothing else, Agnes said with a deep breath.

But when labour started, her husband panicked, realising just how many things were needed. During her stay in hospital, Agnes worried about not even having managed to take out the laundry it had been left in the machine until she returned.

Luckily, my friends provided baby clothes and nappies, so I had something for the baby to wear. My husband hurtled across London gathering baby supplies, but everything was covered in dust, dirty or stained. I spent hours washing it all and waiting for it to dry. At that moment, I honestly felt like divorcing him and throttling the whole family, she nearly wept.

For several days, Agnes worked to restore order in their flat. Two months have passed since her sons birth, but she still refuses to invite visitors round.

Relatives think that after all this time, its fine to pop round. Expecting me to whip up a celebratory Sunday roast Of course, theyve neatly handed me even more work, she said, clearly exasperated.

Agness mother doesnt understand why her daughter isnt happier. Its obvious the flat hadnt been sorted beforehand. She should have thought of that herself! Nine months at home, what did she do with her time? She could have asked her husband to bring up the furniture and clean everything. And surely it wouldnt have been that hard to change his mind about shopping for baby things. You have to look after everything yourself. Who relies on men for these things?

Do you think Agnes is right to resent her family, or is she partly to blame? Should she have made the preparations herself? Whats your opinion? What would you have done in her place?

Sometimes, life teaches us that waiting for others to step up can lead to disappointment its best to take matters into your own hands, ask for help clearly, and remember that preparation often saves a lot of needless stress.