My Winter Boots Were Worn Out, but My Husband Refused to Buy Me New Ones and Said, ‘I Decide How My Money Is Spent’

When my boots gave out during one of the harshest winters in years, I thought my husband, Greg, would step up and buy me new ones. Instead, he prioritized a gift for his mom over my basic needs. But I wasn’t going to take his disrespect sitting down…and both he and his mother were in for a surprise.

Becoming a stay-at-home mother had been my dream since I was a little girl, and I never changed my mind, despite how different my female friends and family envisioned their lives.

When I met Greg, who loved the idea of a housewife, I thought we were perfect for each other. But it wouldn’t take long before I realized why women had fought to become at least a little more independent.

It all happened during the worst winter our town in Michigan had seen in years. I was 34, and I was happy with my life. I took care of the house and our two kids and I tended to my husband. Greg had a fantastic job in tech that more than paid for our lifestyle. All this to say that we were never struggling with one income. We were more than privileged.

Anyway, this winter hit harder than usual and after years of serious use, my boots were in bad shape. The soles had cracked, which caused icy water to leak inside with every step.

I tried my best to find solutions, like using double socks. But it was fruitless. I also tried to ignore the problem, but my feet were freezing most of the time.

One day, I took our kids, Caleb (6) and Lily (4) to the park, but it was much too cold for any real enjoyment. We hadn’t been out that long when my feet started protesting.

So, I decided enough was enough. It was time to get new boots. That night, I approached Greg while he was scrolling through his phone.

“Hey, honey,” I said, keeping my tone light. “I need new boots. My old ones are done for. Look at this.” I held up the sad excuse for boots.