by Laurie Childree

Created on: February 07, 2008

Unfortunately breakfast with the family, and a nine to five work day followed by a nice family dinner is just a dream for most. There are swing shifts and night shifts that extend the work week to fifty and sixty hours. Even more unfortunate is that these hours can take a toll on, even destroy a marriage.

There are ways to keep from straining your marriage while working those long hours. In a household where both partners work balance is important but can seem nearly impossible to achieve. The good news is that it is not impossible there is a way to balance kids, a job and maintain a healthy, happy marriage.

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Leave the job at the job.

When you go home leave the anger and frustration of the job at the job, avoid bringing it though the door when you get home. Your spouse was not there with you, they did not cause your current state of frustration. The minute you leave the job everything at the job should be cleared from your mind until the next morning. When you get home it is time for home life and family.

Eat dinner as a family.

Have a family dinner at least once a week. With the time spent doing overtime and the odd shifts of today this is important. Dinner time is a time to catch up with the family. When you have a day off together plan to eat at least one meal together as a family and concentrate on enjoying yourselves. Keep the conversation about what is going on with the family.

Split the household chores.

When both spouses have a job neither one wants to be made to feel as if they are the only one that ever does anything inside the home. (They don't want to feel that way if they stay home either.) Both of you need to make sure that each day you take the time to pick up after yourselves.

Go out on a date.

That's right go out on a date with your spouse. Do not neglect to find the time to have a date night with your spouse. You don't have to go anywhere but on occasion it is nice. If you chose to stay in, make sure you plan on a romantic evening with them.

Make sure that the night of your date is just the two of you.

Communicate with your spouse.

Whether you both have jobs or not communication is a must. Make sure to take the time to talk about what you feel, how your time together is going to be spent and how much you love each other. Make sure to listen to your partner and actually here what they are saying.

Now you are ready to help keep your job from putting stress on your marriage.

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