Am I out of line for asking my husband to pick up tampons for me?

Hey Uncle Gary,

I got into a bit of a blowout with my mother-in-law after I asked my husband to run to the store and grab me some tampons last night. Personally, I didn’t think it was a big deal, and neither did he.

For context: I’ve always had brutal cramps during the first few days of my period. We’re talking can’t-stand-up, curled-in-a-ball kind of pain. I was on birth control for over a decade to help manage it, but I recently stopped because my husband and I are trying to conceive.

So last night, I was in rough shape and realized I was nearly out of tampons. I asked John if he could pick some up for me since I was basically immobilized. He didn’t hesitate, just grabbed his keys and went.

An hour later, he came back not only with tampons but also with a bunch of comfort items his sisters had suggested. Tea, snacks, a heating pad, the works. It was incredibly thoughtful, and I figured that was the end of it.

Then, earlier today, my mother-in-law called me out of the blue to scold me. She said I’d “humiliated” her son by sending him to buy “feminine products” and called me an a**hole. I was stunned. I talked to my sister afterward, and she said I didn’t do anything wrong. Her husband admitted he might’ve felt awkward doing it, but didn’t think it was worth getting upset over.

When I asked John how he felt, he just laughed and said, “I’m 31, not a teenager.” He genuinely didn’t care.

So now I’m wondering, was I out of line here? Or is Amy just being dramatic?

Signed, Mift Daughter-In-Law

Dear Mift Daughter-In-Law,

Amy’s not being dramatic; she’s being outdated.

Let’s start with the basics: you were in pain, you needed supplies, and your husband, who loves you, lives with you, and presumably knows how periods work, stepped up like a grown adult and took care of it. That’s not humiliating. That’s partnership. That’s love. That’s what we call a functional marriage, and frankly, it sounds like John deserves a medal and a foot rub.

Now Amy? She’s clinging to a version of masculinity that expired sometime around the Eisenhower administration. The idea that buying tampons somehow dents a man’s dignity is not just absurd, it’s harmful. It teaches boys that empathy is weakness and that bodily functions are shameful. And we wonder why so many grown men still think “feminine hygiene” is a dirty phrase.

John didn’t flinch. He didn’t whine. He didn’t make it weird. He just did what needed doing. And then he came back with bonus comfort items, which tells me his sisters were raised right, and Amy might’ve missed a memo.

You weren’t out of line. You were horizontal, in pain, and asking for help from the person who vowed to be there for you in sickness and in health, including menstrual mayhem. Amy can clutch her pearls all she wants, but this isn’t about embarrassment. It’s about control. She didn’t like seeing her son prioritize your needs over her outdated expectations.

So here’s your Uncle Gary verdict: You're Not the A-hole. Not even close.

You’re the woman who’s trying to make a baby while surviving a uterus that throws monthly tantrums. You’re the one who asked for help with grace and got it with love. And if Amy wants to throw a fit over tampons, she can take it up with the 21st century.

Now go hug that husband of yours. He’s a keeper.

Regards, Uncle Gary