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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Relocation and Your Marriage

It can happen. Your spouse comes home one day to announce that his job is relocating him to another state. You can handle it in a myriad of ways, such as pulling out the phone book to schedule the movers to come in, pack everything up, and deliver it to the new home you will soon be house hunting for. Or, you can freak out.

Of course, you want to handle it in the best way for your marriage. After all, this is but one part of your relationship because wherever you live together is your home. While it sounds good in theory, relocating can be hard on your relationship, your kids and your life. Learning some coping mechanisms to overcome challenges and make the best of it can help you make the transition as smooth as possible.

Have a Discussion

It’s okay to feel the way that you feel about the move—be it sad, mad, disappointed, excited, or ready and willing to hit the road. Sit down, even if it is for only 10 minutes and discuss how you feel with your spouse. Then allow him to share his feelings with you. Getting it all out can help overcome negative feelings, just as it can highlight the good points of the move.

Research the Possibilities

New cities, places and homes can bring a new sense of excitement and new opportunities to your family. Find out what the new city has to offer. Go online as if you are a tourist heading off to a “far off land” and find out what activities there are to do there, what the residents are like, and what you can look forward to doing and sharing when you are living there. A lot of relocation fear is just about change, but once you overcome the fear by gaining knowledge it can be an enjoyable experience.


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