I was furious when my husband, David, chose to help a friend’s wife instead of picking me up from the airport. But I decided to teach him a lesson about priorities in a way he wouldn’t forget.

I hatched a plan with Mark, a friend who had kindly driven me home instead. We staged an elaborate dinner to make David realize how it felt to be let down. As we sat down to eat, I made sure to praise Mark’s reliability, driving home the point that David had missed.

The dinner was filled with awkward silence, with David barely touching his food. Afterward, I confronted him, asking if he understood how it felt to be let down. He apologized, and for the first time, realized how his actions had hurt me.

The days that followed were different. David made a conscious effort to prioritize our relationship, leaving work earlier and checking in more often. He kept his promise, even when Jenny went into labor, choosing to stay with me instead of helping his friend.

Our relationship grew stronger as David continued to balance helping others with being present for me. I saw a change in him, a newfound awareness of what it meant to be a partner. He said it best: “You’re my priority, Sarah.”