Practical Ways to Love Your Husband Who Works Long Hours
This week on the show (ep. 62), we're talking about finding ways to adjust our hearts and attitudes when your husband works long hours. No matter if it's one night a week or a month of travel, here are some tips to help you love your husband well and avoid becoming angry or bitter with him or your situation.
Read & Pray: Read the Bible and pray that you would be gracious & patient. For stamina and endurance. Pray the same for your husband. That he would excel in the things he does and God would make his time more efficient. Pray that God would change your husband’s heart, or his job situation - whatever the root issue is.
Believe the best in him: If you’ve ever worked you know the pressure he is under. And especially if you’re a SAHM, remember he feels a lot of pressure to provide financially. Choose to believe him if he tells you he’d rather be home. And if you can't trust him, you can ALWAYS trust God has you where you're supposed to be.
Don’t wait: Just go to the party, vacation, weddings, etc. He can meet you there when he is off.
Make him look good: In public: sign the card, send the note, say the words - do all the things he doesn’t have the time or mental capacity to do. In front of your kids: Always make daddy special to your kids. Call him, tell stories, make special videos/art/photos just for him.
Be flexible with your routine: Especially your evening one. When you eat, when the kids go to bed, what activities you do. Don't think your schedule has to look like anyone else's.
Self-Care: Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. Childcare, a kid-free stay-cation, cleaning help, a gym membership – don't ask for the moon, but come humbly to your husband with a few ways they can love you and help you to be the best mom possible.
Talk about it with him, but don’t exhaust the topic: Your husband should know how you feel, and you have every right to express yourself and let him know that it’s difficult and you want things to change. But be careful not to nag or harp on the issue. Choose your attitude until you have a chance to actually talk. And know that sometimes, it’s best to just not talk about it for a while. Give him - and yourself - a breather.
