After I put the child to bed, I want to rest too
This is a story for anyone who, even after putting the child to bed, focuses first on their partner’s expectations and can’t say what pace their own body…
Scenes
- Tonight, I just want to shower — I come out to the living room after putting the child to bed, but when my partner approaches, I swallow the words about wanting to shower and rest.
- Worried I’ll hurt my partner’s feelings — I’m afraid saying no will create distance between us, and I start feeling sorry even for saying I’m tired.
- The moment my partner reached for my hand — It’s not that I dislike my partner, but tonight, the first thing I wanted was to shower alone.
- Closeness has its own pace today — Consent isn’t a promise made just once. When you push through even though you’re tired, it becomes easier to miss the signals from your heart and body.
- Keep it short: “I want to rest tonight” — Don’t start with a long explanation. Try naming only the pace you need today. It’s practice in not erasing your own words while watching for your partner’s reaction.
- My pace belongs in closeness too — It’s okay if you can’t say it perfectly at first. Naming a boundary and noticing your partner’s response together is also a kind of conversation that’s hard to learn alone.
Stories by Haeon
- Haeon
- After the funeral, I find it hard to bring up contraception and testing.
- When someone reaches out after a long time, it’s hard to make plans based on silence alone.
- I fold away my hopes while waiting for a reply
- I keep putting off talking to my parents about my body every Sunday night.
- Sunday night, my feelings get tangled only after we’ve been close
- Someone I haven’t heard from in ages got in touch. Is it okay to bring up contraception first?
- It was my day off, but I said yes again.
- A group chat notification interrupts her.