My wife went through IVF, pregnancy and birth, our kid was in NICU with serious issue. Through IVF, the entire pregnancy birth and NICU stay, I was treated like a second class citizen. I went to every IVF, OB appointment and every other appointment. my wife was treated like the grand center of attention which is great, but I did feel the pressure to keep my mouth shut and essentially not be part of any discussion. I suppose a lot of deadbeat men and absent fathers have ruined it for men who actually show up for their wives and their families. Tough shit for me right.

When my dad died my wife, myself, and our two boys, moved in with my mom because she has no idea how to take care of normal life stuff. My brother lives in the same property as her and couldn’t be bothered to check in on her because he was, understandably, distraught. For two years of living there my mom leaned on me but only ever asked me once how I was doing, my wife only ever complained about living there and never asked how I was doing, yet insisted we should stay if I suggested leaving. I have three super close friends, and I don’t think I would have made it without them.

Check in on your friends, even when they’re not going through something traumatic, because you may be the only one who does.

I hope she’s doing ok.

This is a good example of the glass floor. Women get support, men are expected to either deal, or disappear. Gender inequality won’t be dealt with until its fixed on both sides. The glass ceiling is going for women, but we still need to build a glass floor for men too.

Things are improving, but slowly.

This feels like it’s from 2015. Nobody uses the word patriarchy like that anymore.