[Lee D]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

Well, I can tell you what NOT to do. Don't decide that going to another state for 7 months and leaving your wife and 3 month old son with her parents is a killer idea. We almost DIDN'T survive that one. Thankfully, everything worked out, and things are stellar now. I wouldn't repeat it, though.

As for the airline thing, I try to maximize my time at home with my schedule. When I AM home, I try to make sure *I* do things at the house like dishes, laundry, cleaning, etc. She does them enough when I'm gone, so it's my turn to do my share of the work. If she needs a break from Gavin, she gets it. Besides, I haven't seen him for 3-4 days. I WANT to take him off her hands.

When I'm gone the key is communication. Text messages during the day spliced with at least one actual phone call a day. If she needs to vent about work, parents, the kiddo, whatever, I let her. Doesn't matter what happend during my day, we can get to that (and she doesn't really understand 90% of it, but she listens anyway). Once she's feeling better, then I can tell her about my day at work. Lack of communication is what can kill a relationship before you even knew it was dying.

Great comments!! I completely agree with Kellwolf here. I don't come home from trips and leave to go golfing or whatever. I try to take a very active roll in everything around the house. Clean more than your share of the house, fuel up her car, change the poopie diapers whatever. I'm not saying you become a slave when you are home. Just take an active roll as a spouse and parent.