Mom Works 12-Hour Shift on Father’s Day After Husband Went Golfing on Mother’s Day: ‘I Just Returned the Favor’

Michelle Rossi had a creative way of reminding her husband that parenting is a partnership—especially on holidays.

After her husband mistakenly spent Mother’s Day golfing with friends a few years ago, Rossi decided to flip the script. When Father’s Day rolled around, the 34-year-old nurse picked up a 12-hour shift—leaving him home alone with their three young children, who at the time were just 2, 1, and 6 months old.

She documented the day with a viral TikTok video, showing a FaceTime call from work while her husband wrangled the kids. “My husband said it’s all about spending time with the kids on Mother’s Day,” she captioned the clip. “So I picked up a 12-hour shift on Father’s Day so he can spend time with them alone.”

@mirossi91

That’s what it’s all about 🤣 #throwback #fathersday

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The video exploded online, racking up 7.7 million views and sparking a wave of reactions.

“It was mostly women cheering me on—and a few angry dads,” Rossi told PEOPLE with a laugh. “It’s become an ongoing joke between us now. He thought it was hilarious.”

Rossi clarified that the post wasn’t meant to bash her husband but to be lighthearted and relatable. “Social media isn’t always what it seems,” she said. “I love posting content that makes people laugh—and that other moms can connect with.”

She now reposts the clip every year, but says things have changed since that memorable Father’s Day. “Now, I usually wake up to coffee and cards from the kids and my husband. This year, I even got a massage,” she said.

Despite the occasional scheduling conflict due to her job in healthcare, Rossi says they’ve learned how to make both Mother’s and Father’s Day special.

This past Father’s Day, the family went out to breakfast and spent the afternoon at a water park. “It’s all about balance,” she said. “But it also reminds us moms—it’s okay to return the favor every now and then.”