I’m a full-time mom. About a year ago, I left my job to take care of our three-year-old daughter, who is autistic and requires a lot of support. Lately, I’ve noticed that my usually feminist husband has been criticizing me in a group chat.
Transitioning into the role of a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) wasn’t something I had envisioned for myself. I used to thrive in the fast-paced world of marketing, surrounded by campaigns and fueled by brainstorming sessions over coffee. But all that changed a little over a year ago when my husband, Jake, and I made a significant decision. Our daughter, Lily, who is three and autistic, needed more attention than what her daycare could provide. Her needs are complex, requiring constant care and support, and it became clear that one of us had to be with her full-time.
I won’t sugarcoat it — leaving my career behind was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made. I miss the freedom of earning my own income and the satisfaction of a job well done. But here I am now, spending my days planning meals, cooking, and baking. I’ve found joy in these tasks, and experimenting in the kitchen has become my new creative outlet.
Our backyard has turned into a small garden oasis under my care, and I take care of most of the household chores. Jake does his fair share too; he’s actively involved in chores and parenting whenever he’s at home. We’ve always considered ourselves equals, rejecting traditional gender roles, or so I thought until last week.
It was a regular Thursday, and I was tidying up Jake’s home office while he was at work. It’s filled with tech gadgets and piles of paperwork, typical for someone in software development. His computer screen caught my eye — it was still on, casting a soft glow in the dim room. He usually left it on by accident, but what I saw next wasn’t accidental at all.
His Twitter feed was open, and I froze when I saw the hashtag #tradwife attached to a tweet. Confusion washed over me as I read the post. It glorified the joys of having a traditional wife who embraces her domestic duties. Attached was a photo of me, taking a batch of cookies out of the oven, looking every bit like a 1950s housewife. My stomach churned as I scrolled through more posts. There I was again, tending to the garden and reading to Lily, our faces thankfully obscured.
This was Jake’s account, and he had been crafting a whole narrative about our life that was far from reality. He portrayed me as a woman who relished her role as a homemaker, willingly sacrificing her career for aprons and storybooks. The truth of our situation — that this arrangement was a necessity for our daughter’s well-being — was nowhere to be seen.
I felt betrayed. Here was the man I’d loved and trusted for over a decade, sharing our life with strangers under a false pretense that felt foreign to me. It wasn’t just the lies about our relationship dynamics that hurt — it was also the realization that he was using these glimpses of our life to bolster some online persona.
I shut the computer down, my hands trembling with a mix of anger and bewilderment. All day, I grappled with my emotions, trying to comprehend why Jake would do this. Was he dissatisfied with our situation? Did he resent my decision to stay home? Or was it something deeper, a shift in how he perceived me now that I wasn’t contributing financially?
The rest of the day passed in a blur. His posts kept replaying in my mind, and eventually, I couldn’t ignore them any longer. I decided to call him and address everything head-on.
“Jake, we need to talk,” I finally said, trying to keep my voice steady.
He answered, sounding concerned. “What’s wrong?”
I took a deep breath, the weight of my discovery weighing heavily on me. “I saw your Twitter today…”
His expression fell, and he let out a long sigh, indicating he knew exactly what this conversation was about to entail. He started to respond, but I interrupted him.
“Calm down,” he said, dismissing it as “just harmless posting.” That was the final straw. I told him I wanted a divorce, called him out for his deceit, and ended the call.
Jake rushed home immediately. We argued, but with Lily’s strict schedule, I couldn’t let the conflict drag on. He pleaded with me to have a proper conversation after putting Lily to bed. Reluctantly, I agreed. That night, he showed me his phone, revealing that he had deleted the Twitter account. But the damage was already done.
A week passed, and my anger hadn’t subsided. This wasn’t a simple misunderstanding. It was a breach of trust. Jake attempted to explain, claiming it started as a joke, but he got carried away with the attention it garnered. But excuses weren’t enough.
Motivated by a mix of hurt and the need for justice, I decided to expose him. I took screenshots of his tweets and shared them on my Facebook page. I wanted our friends and family to know the truth. My post was straightforward: “Your husband belittles you in front of his friends behind your back. Sound familiar?”
The response was immediate. Our relatives were shocked, and the comments poured in. Jake was inundated with messages and calls. He left work early once more to beg for my forgiveness. He knelt, tears in his eyes, pleading that it was all just a “silly game.”
But I couldn’t let it go. The trust that bound us together was broken. It wasn’t just about a few misguided posts; it was about the respect and understanding we were supposed to have for each other. I told him I needed time and space to think and heal. I moved out with Lily to another apartment.
For six months, Jake begged for forgiveness. He sent messages, left voicemails, and made small gestures to show he was sorry. But sorry wasn’t enough. I told him that if he truly wanted to make amends, we needed to start anew. In my eyes, we were strangers now, and he had to court me like he did years ago when we first met.
So, we began again, slowly. We went on dates, starting with coffee and progressing to dinners. We talked a lot — about everything except the past. It was like rediscovering ourselves individually and as a couple. Jake was patient, perhaps realizing this was his last chance to salvage our once-loving relationship.
As I sit here now, reflecting on the past year, I realize how much I’ve changed. This betrayal forced me to reevaluate not only my marriage but also myself and my needs. I’ve learned that forgiveness isn’t just about accepting an apology; it’s about feeling secure and valued again. It’s a gradual process, one that we’re both committed to, step by step.
What would you have done if you were in my shoes? Share your thoughts on Facebook.
HOW DOES VICTORIA PRINCIPAL LOOK SO AMAZING AT 74? FIND OUT HERE
“Dallas,” the most successful primetime soap in TV history, is a show I hold dear. I could easily rewatch the entire series just to enjoy Victoria Principal’s performance.
Victoria Principal, known for her memorable role as Pamela Barnes Ewing, was one of the main reasons to watch “Dallas,” along with Larry Hagman, who played the infamous J.R. Ewing.
Now, at 74 years old, Victoria looks incredible. You’ll be amazed when you see her latest photos!
Victoria Principal, now 74, has had a diverse career as an actress, author, producer, and skincare business owner.
Her ability to succeed in many areas might be due to her childhood, which required her to adapt to different places.
Victoria was born on January 3, 1950, in Japan. Her father, a U.S. Air Force Sergeant, was stationed in Fukuoka, so Victoria spent her early months there.
As a child, Victoria and her mother moved frequently due to her father’s job. They lived in England, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, Florida, and other places.
Victoria Principal attended 17 different schools during her childhood, including the famous Royal Ballet School in England.
Her childhood experiences are a bit mixed. According to the Daily Mail, Victoria and her mother, Ree Principal, had a complicated relationship, and Victoria described her childhood as unhappy in a 2009 report. In a 2012 interview with the Huffington Post, Victoria said she wished she had known earlier that her childhood would eventually end.
However, Victoria has also said, “I was very lucky. My parents raised me in such a way that it never occurred to me that I wasn’t equal.”
Victoria Principal began working early, landing her first job in a TV commercial at just 5 years old.
In 1968, she enrolled at Miami-Dade Community College, planning to become a doctor. However, her path changed dramatically after a serious car accident just months before finishing her first year. The crash forced her to spend months in recovery, and she had to repeat her first year of college.
Deciding to change direction, Victoria moved to New York City to pursue acting. After working as an actress and model in New York and Europe, she moved to Los Angeles in 1971 to chase major film roles. She eventually landed a role in the film “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean,” playing the mistress of the main character, portrayed by Paul Newman.
Victoria Principal showed she had talent early on, earning a Golden Globe nomination for best newcomer. Her rising fame meant she started getting invited to more parties, but she soon realized that many people were more interested in her fame than in being genuine friends.
After her role in “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean,” Victoria had a hard time finding satisfying roles. Her next film, “The Naked Ape,” didn’t do well, which really affected her confidence.
Victoria Principal wanted to be successful to protect herself from getting hurt. She became very cautious and guarded.
In 1974, she starred in the hit disaster film “Earthquake,” which did really well at the box office. However, while filming “Vigilante Force” in 1975, Victoria felt overwhelmed and collapsed under the pressure of maintaining a perfect image. She admitted that she was so unhappy that she didn’t want to continue living.
Victoria decided to step away from acting and study law. Between 1975 and 1977, she worked as a talent agent, which gave her relief from the constant focus on her looks and body. As an agent, she was valued for her skills and personality.
While working as an agent, Victoria came across the script for the TV series “Dallas.” She was intrigued and knew she wanted the role. She called the casting director and, in a surprising twist, sent herself in for the audition.
Victoria ended up landing the role of Pamela Barnes Ewing, and it became a defining moment in her career.
Victoria Principal knew that “Dallas” was going to be a big success. She loved the show and the role of Pamela Barnes Ewing from the moment she read the script. She felt like she was meant to play that part.
Victoria used her knowledge of the industry to negotiate her own contract with CBS. This gave her the freedom to work on other projects while “Dallas” became a global hit. She was the only cast member who did commercials, acted in TV movies, and wrote books, all while maintaining control over her own image.
Victoria took charge of her career and made sure that no one else controlled her.
In 1978, the TV show *Dallas* premiered and quickly became one of the most popular TV dramas ever. It was so popular that it’s hard for younger people today to grasp just how big of a deal it was worldwide.
The show focused on the Ewings, a rich Texas family involved in oil and cattle ranching.
Victoria Principal, who was 28 when the show started, played a big part in its success. As Pamela Barnes Ewing, the gorgeous wife of Bobby Ewing and sister-in-law to JR Ewing, she became a major crush for many fans of that generation.
During her nine years on *Dallas*, Victoria Principal was nominated for a Golden Globe and two Soap Opera Digest Awards.
Recently, she has shared stories from her time on the show and talked about working with Larry Hagman, who played the iconic character JR Ewing.
Victoria mentioned that working with Larry was always enjoyable. He was a generous actor who would discuss how to make their scenes even better before filming them.
Victoria Principal wasn’t very close with her *Dallas* castmates.
She explained that while they did talk on the phone, they didn’t often hang out together. They had different lives: Patrick, Steve, Larry, and Linda were all married with children, while Victoria was single. Their lifestyles were just too different.
Victoria left *Dallas* in 1987 for a few reasons. She felt that staying on the show longer would make it hard for her to be seen as more than just her character, Pam Ewing. She wanted to avoid being typecast and to explore other opportunities.
Victoria Principal, now 71, has always been in the spotlight, but she’s also made a name for herself off-screen. After marrying plastic surgeon Dr. Harry Glassman, rumors suggested he might have helped her maintain her youthful appearance. However, in a 2007 interview, Victoria denied using any of his services for cosmetic procedures. She stated, “I’ve never had a face-lift. Or a professional peel or lasers.”
Victoria and Dr. Glassman divorced in December 2006 after being together for over 20 years. While she doesn’t have biological children, she grew close with Dr. Glassman’s children from a previous relationship, Andrew and Brooke.
These days, Victoria stays active on social media and spends much of her time on her ranch near Los Angeles, where she focuses on rehabilitating animals. Seeing her happy and thriving brings tears of joy to many of her fans!
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