When I say that I haven't been away from Robert since Covid, I mean that in an almost literal sense. We spend most of every day together, always beginning and ending the day side by side.
But it hasn't always been this way. In our professional careers, and as we parented our three daughters, there were many times when we had to spend long stretches of time in separate spaces. While I worked full time, as a high school teacher, I rarely travelled and was home each day after school to get dinner on the table, and read bed time stories. Robert's job as a lawyer, on the other hand, required him to travel often, and a lot. I can remember several times when he would be gone for a month or more, always flying home on the weekend to be with his girls, but leaving early Monday morning, back to his trial.
He didn't have to fly home each weekend. Many of the other lawyers didn't. But that's the kind of guy he is. He wanted to stay connected to us, and be part of his girls lives as they grew. He did a great job of that. I don't think the girls remember that he was away so much, because he was always a constant presence in their lives, no matter how long the trial lasted.
I remember once when he was off to trial for a long stretch, I complained to a colleague, saying," I hate when my husband is away, I miss him so much!" And she repsonded, "Really? I'm always glad when my husband is on a trip because then I get time to myself!"
So I guess, our way is not for everybody. But I wouldn't have it any other way.
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