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/