My husband works a job that often requires more than 40 hours a week. Most weeks, it’s 50. He also has a seasonal side hustle that lasts about 5 months out of the year.
Needless to say, he’s gone a lot.
Each weekday, his alarm goes off at 4:15 a.m. Yes, 4:15 a.m. No matter the time of year, it’s always dark then. Last night, he got home at 10 p.m. That was an exceptionally late night. It’s usually more like 7 or 8 p.m., but still, that’s a REALLY long day, when you’ve been awake since even before the crack of dawn.
You know what else makes for a long day?
And we have to refuel somehow
I prep meals with my husband in mind, but more things that will pack up as decent lunch warm-ups. Most nights, I join the kids and their kid-friendly meal because he’s not home at a regular dinnertime.
We communicate via email or text during the day, since I’m asleep when he leaves and, once he’s home, he’s too tired for coherent sentences or decision-making. It works, but I miss casually talking. So much of our life has come down to logistics.
Do you feel the same way?
None of this is a complaint. It’s just how things are. The present season. I 100% know that my husband is working his tail off for our family. I appreciate his sacrifice. But it doesn’t come without sacrifice of my own. It’s lonely and hard, and our family yearns for our missing piece when he’s away.
Hold strong, mama
It may seem like menial work — balancing life at home and carting kids to and fro — but your presence matters. It has value. The value is not connected to dollars, but important just the same.
When the going gets tough, remember, our husbands are working hard, we’re working hard, and together, we make an amazing team. A team that does the hard stuff, a team that’s united towards a common cause.
We may function solo on a daily basis, but we are not alone. That is the greatest blessing of all. So, let’s dig deep — we can do this!
