Podcast 1:26 - Protecting Your Marriage when You're Apart
Time apart can be hard and taxing on a marriage. But there are many situations where it is inevitable. Time apart comes in many forms, work travel, traveling to see kids, a spouse in the military, it all takes a toll on your marriage and your relationship. In this episode, we talk about the dangers of being apart and some tips to overcome the side effects.
Time apart can be hard and taxing on a marriage. But there are many situations where it is inevitable. Time apart comes in many forms, work travel, traveling to see kids, a spouse in the military, it all takes a toll on your marriage and your relationship. In this episode, we talk about the dangers of being apart and some tips to overcome the side effects.
Situations of being apart
- Spouse travels for work
- Spouse travels to see their kids or a long commute to get them or take them back to their ex
- Spouse lives in another location
- Spouse deployed
- You or your spouse work long hours or opposite schedules
Perils of being apart
- Disconnecting emotionally
- Missing out on what is going on at home
- Feelings of resentment (I am doing all the hard things at home while you are out to eat at fancy restaurants)
- Upon returning, the person at home feels in charge and the other disrupts the flow
- Changes made while you're gone
- Overwhelmed feelings by being alone and no one to share in the burdens
- anxiety
- There is a physical toll on the person traveling
- Watch out for emotional isolation
How to Protect your Marriage
- The divorce rate is higher in couples that travel or spend alot of time apart
- Connect every day - skype, text during the day
- Make sure you are sharing all the little things, but be careful not to just share all the bad that happened - makes spouse that is gone feel helpless
- Don't romanticize your spouse's life
- If possible travel together
- Watch a show together
- Skype in for the nightly routine
- Don't spend time alone with coworkers or friends of the opposite sex
- Don't impulse buy to fill a void
- Make sure you leave on a good note - pre-separation anxiety causes fights
- Leave notes for them to find
Lemonade moment of the week
- Paige fixed the AC
Links
- https://thepointsguy.com/2014/02/the-hardest-part-about-having-a-traveling-spouse/
- https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/04/bring-your-spouse-on-a-business-trip.html
- https://medium.com/@mountainsunmoved/my-husband-works-his-butt-off-for-our-family-c181243a0e48
- https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/how-to-keep-business-travel-from-killing-your-marriage/