AITA for refusing to take care of my husband’s medical equipment?

Picture a bedroom at dawn, a CPAP machine humming softly—until a curious cat pounces, sparking a marital firestorm. For one wife, her husband’s 15-year habit of leaving his sleep apnea gear out has become a daily burden, one he insists she shoulder to keep kids and pets at bay. When she pushes back, saying it’s his responsibility, he doubles down, blaming her for a chewed hose and threatening to lock her out of their shared space.

This isn’t just about a medical device; it’s a clash over fairness in a home stretched thin by unequal chores. The wife, juggling family life, feels dismissed as her husband prioritizes his convenience over hers. His lockout idea—cutting her off from her own bedroom—has her questioning who’s really unreasonable. Reddit’s diving into this domestic drama, and the stakes are as personal as a marriage vow.

‘AITA for refusing to take care of my husband’s medical equipment?’

Marriages thrive on shared loads, but this couple’s tussle over a CPAP machine reveals a deeper rift in teamwork. The wife’s refusal to manage her husband’s medical gear stems from exhaustion—he expects her to safeguard it while leaving his shoes and habits wherever suits him. His reaction, blaming her for damage and proposing a bedroom lockout, screams control, not compromise.

She’s clear: it’s his device, his duty. He sees it as her role, dismissing her access to their shared space as collateral damage. Relationship coach Dr. Laura Berman says, “When one partner prioritizes their ease over mutual respect, it erodes trust” (Berman, 2024). Berman’s insight nails it—the husband’s demands pile unfair labor on his wife, ignoring her equal claim to their home. His lockout threat? A power move, not a solution.

This spat mirrors a broader issue: unequal household burdens. A 2023 Pew Research study found 59% of women in marriages report doing more domestic work than their spouse (Pew Research, 2023). The wife’s stand is a bid for equity, not rebellion. Dr. Berman suggests a chore audit—list tasks, split them fairly, and set boundaries like storing the CPAP daily. The wife could propose a trial: he manages it for a month, or they rethink room access together. Readers, ever fought over whose job is whose? Share your take below.

These are the responses from Reddit users:

Reddit’s no stranger to calling out lopsided marriages, and this wife’s CPAP saga got the crowd buzzing with wit and wisdom. Here’s what they had to say, served with a side of shade: These Reddit gems make you wonder: is the husband’s stance just lazy, or is something bigger breaking down? Let’s unpack it.

This wife’s refusal to play CPAP keeper isn’t about one hose—it’s a stand for fairness in a marriage tilting toward one man’s convenience. By demanding she lose bedroom access, her husband’s drawn a line that feels more like a lock than love. Can they redraw the chore map to share the load, or is this a sign of deeper cracks? What would you do if your spouse made your home feel less like yours? Drop your thoughts—let’s sort out this marital mess!