This post contains affiliate links. By purchasing through these links you are helping me keep The Homemaker's Cottage running with no added cost to you!
I consider myself still a newlywed, even with over a year and a half of marriage, but even I know that being apart for periods of time is a necessity in marriage. Work, family, and friends all call for our attention as well, and sometimes it just isn’t feasible for both of you to go together.
In all honesty, Simeon and I struggle with being apart ever since we had to spend two years in a long-distance relationship at the beginning of our college careers. It is one of our least favorite things to do. But as it is a necessity to be able to be apart in marriage, I’ve come up with some ways to cope when Simeon is away.
10| Pesky Chores
You know the ones that you continually put off because you “have no time” to do. If you are anything like Simeon and I “having no time” is code for we don’t actually want to do it and have decided to use our time doing something fun together instead, like watching a movie or grocery shopping (yes, we love grocery shopping together. :)) On Simeon’s last trip, I was able to get the majority of our apartment in tip-top shape!
9| Entertain People
I’m a bit of an introvert, but I still love hosting people and having them over every once and a while. It helps to be able to concentrate on other people instead of the fact that Simeon is gone.
8| Netflix Marathon
Simeon and I have some pretty differing views on what makes a great TV show. So I save some of the shows that I want to watch for the times when he isn’t around because I hate the judgey looks. Yes, I adore extreme drama and crazy untrue storylines, and he thinks I’m crazy for it. So I pop some popcorn and enjoy my favorite shows on my own.
7| Pamper Yourself
What better time to pull out the face masks and nail polish than when there are no males around?
6| Bake!
I adore baking! Simeon always says that I should limit to one sweet at a time, so when he is gone I find it fun to see his face when he comes home to all of his favorite treats.
5| Read a Good Book
When I get into a book, you can’t pull me out of it until it is done. I find it better to save Simeon from losing his wife for a week and save the best books for while he is gone.
4| Girl’s Night
Ever since our wedding, I’ve sorta felt bad about leaving Simeon behind to enjoy an evening with the girls. There is no guilt if he is already out enjoying a night with guys, or out on another trip.
3| Side Hustle
I get a lot of work done at night. This is also the only time that I ever really get to hang out with Simeon, so it usually means that I don’t get to do my work at night. But if Simeon is gone, I can work on designs, photo editing, and blog posts until three in the morning if I want to.
2| Visit Family
My family is a group of talkers and workers. My mom and stepdad are ALWAYS doing something around the house. Simeon enjoys a more laid back visit, so sometimes I’ll head out to hang out with my mom and chit chat and help her around the house while Simeon is gone. 🙂 I’m also a mommy’s girl so I enjoy getting to spend time with her on my own.
1| Time Alone with God
Have you ever tried to have an extended time alone with God? It is an extremely wonderful thing to do. I once went on a college ministry retreat where we were required to spend four hours along with God one morning. Four hours! And I walked away never having felt so close to God before. As long as you have the time to have no distractions, might as well focus on improving your number one relationship.
What do you do when your husband is away? Leave a comment below!
Join us every Monday and Thursday for new topics on homemaking and sharing the gospel! You can find us on our Facebook page, in our Facebook group, The Homemaker’s Corner, on Instagram and Pinterest.
Hi Everyone! I’m Sabra! My path to where I am today has held plenty of twists and turns that include a boy sitting me down to explain to me what following God was really like, to months later a tearful realization that I needed Christ, then years later that very same boy giving me his last name. I’m a fresh college graduate with a passion for horses, photography, blog design, and blogging. Now that I'm graduated, I work for myself as a photographer and blog designer! When I'm not working, I'm figuring out how to be a new puppy mama and the best wife I can be. You can usually catch me over at my blog, Becoming Sabra Gilbert, sharing about these things and whatever else catches my fancy.
My husband snores. Loudly. Like, I can be two rooms away and still hear it. It wakes me up in the middle of the night and I can’t ever get back to sleep. So when he is gone, I SLEEP a blissful, 8-hours-in-one-spurt, dead to the world, sleep!
Oh, and all the other stuff you mentioned too. But my favorite is that I get to sleep!