In the next four days, I and my wife will be in a "long distance relationship", despite the fact that we sleep on the same bed. It is a realization that my wife made and one that is rather frustrating.
We've been married for a bit over two years, so I'd say we're still new to the marriage thing. We haven't had a lot of experience but we have worked together to overcome a lot of challenges and this is just going to be one of them.
Since we moved to the UK, we have had a lot of firsts in our union. For all of them, we have had to adjust in the moment and mentally work our way through it.
From a logical point of view, I believe that our bond will be strengthened by these challenges that we overcome. We're learning new things about life as a couple and doing our best to maximize whatever opportunities life throws at us.
The first real challenge was obviously leaving Nigeria and moving to a new country. We've had to move out of a much bigger living space into a tiny corner in Nottingham and sharing kitchen area with others.
It is far from ideal but it is the choice we made together and so, we're making the best out of the situation. Fortunately for us, all our flatmates are decent and matured people, so other than feeling like you're in a cramped up space sometimes, there's not much to deal with.
When we started plotting our move to the UK, I didn't think we'd be able to afford flights for both of us at the same time. So, I was thinking we'd stagger our movement by a week or two but my wife said no.
At the time, since we'd been married, we had always slept together and never been in two separate cities. In barely one month of the UK, we've had to sleep at separate times because one person did night shift.
Last week's night shift by my wife was much easier to bear because I took a day off work. She got back on Friday morning and I was waiting for her at home.
This week is going to be a totally different scenario and based on our schedule, we won't be seeing each other for a while. The timing of both our jobs means that we'll be missing each other.
I'll be going out around 6am to sign in early for my 7am shift while my wife leaves by 4pm to sign into her 5pm shift. My shift ends by 5pm and I get home around 6pm while my wife's shift ends by 4am, so she gets home around 6am.
At the time she's coming back, I'd already be on my way to work and by the time I'm coming back, she'll be on her way. So, despite living in the same house, we're going to be experiencing a simulated long distance relationship for a few days.
From Tuesday all the way to Friday, it will be this way. Fortunately for us, it is only for this week and it is also important to add that she's looking for a new job that offers a better schedule.
This is yet another challenge we have to overcome and we definitely will do it. It is far from ideal and emotionally draining.