Keeping The Lines Of Communication Open When A Spouse Travels For Work
Keeping The Lines Of Communication Open When A Spouse Travels For Work
Working Moms are able find balance between work and kids. However, if your spouse travels for work, many of the household and parenting duties can become overwhelming quickly. For traveling jobs like sales or trucking, your spouse could be away for weeks at a time. This could leave a serious burden on you. But, it is much easier to manage if you have an open line of communication with your spouse. Here are some of the best ways to keep in touch while your spouse is on the road for work.
Prepare A Plan Before The Work Trip
In order to stay in touch, couples should know the duration of the trip ahead of time. Truck drivers might be on the road for several weeks at a time. Establishing a return date gives both of you a clear idea of what will be expected. You can discuss major events or activities coming up. Either at home or on the trip, note any anticipated busy periods. If you know of these busy periods ahead of time, you will not feel slighted or forgotten while your spouse is traveling for work. Likewise, you can make the most of the times where they have some down time.
Create A Schedule For Yourself
While your spouse is away, it is too easy to get all-consumed thinking about yourself. As the only partner home, you can create some balance by sticking to a schedule. In the mornings, maintain a workout schedule. In the evenings, set aside time for yourself. This will help balance out any emotions of jealously towards your spouse. By having some time for yourself, you are much more likely to feel fulfilled and communicate openly with your spouse. In turn, your spouse might share more about their day, revealing that they are not “out” while you are at home.
Setup Routine Daily Call Times
With both of your schedules laid out, setup a routine for calling each other. Most working travelers will cover territories within a country or region. Find a time in the morning that works for both of you. While on the move, your spouse might have to adjust with a different time zone. If this is the case, you might need to change your call routine from trip to trip. Make the most of your time management skills. Whatever time you choose, a quick morning call can keep communication consistent. Once this call is part of your routine, it will feel like much less of an effort to keep in touch.
Notify Your Spouse Of An Emergency Immediately
Both spouses should notify the other right away in the event of an emergency. Establish this rule early on, especially if your spouse is on the road full time. As noted on GirardiKeese.com, “there were 475,000 crashes involving large trucks. About 22 percent of them (106,000) injured one or more people.” If anything were to happen, you need to be able to trust that your partner will tell you if they get into an accident or injured. On the other hand, if something goes wrong at home, your spouse would want to know right away too. This policy will ensure that communication lines are open in the most critical moments.
Make Commitments For Discussions
Throughout the duration of a work trip, either spouse might need to have a long discussion. Problem solving is a significant aspect of any relationship. In order to solve problems together, follow through on commitments to talk for an extended period. While at home or on the road, it is easy to miss that 8:30 PM call. Set reminders and alerts so that you are ready to discuss whatever issues are at hand. As a result, you will be able to tackle any family, financial or social issues together. In case one spouse can’t make the call, give advance notice so there is no resentment or tension. Making commitments will keep you communicating and solving problems as a team.
Having a spouse that travels can strain any relationship. You have to balance working, motherhood and marriage. However, there are several ways to keep your lines of communication open during work trips. Firstly, plan out the trip with busy and slow times. Create a schedule at home. Setup routine daily calls so they become a habit. Agree to notify each other in the event of an emergency. Additionally, keep your commitments to discuss complex issues and problems. By following these steps, you can stay in touch with your spouse while they travel for work.
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