Navigating Long-Distance Marriage: Tips for a Happy Relationship

Question
Hi Debbie
My husband and have been married about a year and a half and we are very happy.  We live in Chicago and on Jan 3rd he moved to England for one year with his job.  It was a joint decision and we are both on board 100%.  Trust is not an issue in our relationship, one factor that helped with this decision on both of our parts.  We miss each other dearly and although its only been a few days, i know there is a long road ahead.  Do you have any suggestions on how I can best support him. I know he is very homesick and missing me and our two dogs very much.  I am very proud of the accomplishments that have lead him to this amazing opportunity.  I just hope this doesn't hurt our marriage.  I want to be as supportive of him as he is of me in everything that I do.  Do you have any thoughts on how we can make this work long distance and how i can express my support and love from so far away, while dealing with my own sadness at the same time?
thank you


Answer
Long distance relationships are lonely and sad. Thank heaven you have trust, without it you will not make a month. Talking on the phone regularly is an obvious one. Make video tapes of yourselves for the other. Just talking everyday talk and doing everyday things. Hopefully you have email. I hope you can try to visit back and forth a couple of times. If so make those visits ULTRA special! In the meantime wrap yourself up in work, friends, family and volunteer work. Being a volunteer for a non-profit organization can fill you where you need it most. Tell your husband ALL the time how proud you are of him and thank him for being your hero. Good luck.