9 Ways To Support Your Spouse While They Are In School
Sometimes, I feel like supporting my husband while he’s in school is easy.
Maybe because I’m used to going with the flow.
But I know every relationship is different.
So I don’t expect you to find it as easy as I do.
While it will be challenging initially, it becomes easier as you and your partner get used to the new routine.
This post will discuss ways to support your spouse while they are in school.
Let’s begin.
Ways to support your husband when he’s in school
When my husband decided he wanted to pursue a doctorate, I knew our lives would change.
But I also understood it was for the betterment of our family.
So I decided I’d support him all the way.
It wasn’t easy initially because we had to settle in a new country, etc.
But when I realized this is how our lives will be until he finishes his program, I started looking at the positives.
Now I take it that he’s going to work, and after a while, he’ll get a much better job.
So I focus on the outcome and our future.
If your spouse is in school, here’s how to support them:
1. How to support your spouse while they’re in school? Let them focus
I understand your spouse’s return to school might affect your relationship, but please let them focus.
They will have busy days most of the time, but you know why.
This is not the time to nitpick and argue over everything.
And if you do have problems, please resolve them so your partner is in the right frame of mind to work.
Being on good terms with your partner is also good for you because you’d be able to focus on your thing too.
My hubby and I had days when he left without a kiss from me.
And I’d spend the day wishing I’d accepted the kiss when he came to me.
Knowing things were good between us helped us both get through the day.
So give your partner hugs and kisses.
When you’re okay and happy with each other, your partner can focus better on their work.
2. Do your own thing when your spouse is in school
While your spouse is working for a degree, take the time to improve yourself.
Why not work on that if you want to learn something new or start a business?
When you spend time improving yourself, you won’t feel left behind.
And no matter what you choose to do, you’d find fulfillment in it.
You can learn a new language or a skill or start an online business like writing, reselling, etc.
I started blogging to pass the time when my husband started his master’s program.
And now that blog makes money for me to do little things for myself and the kids.
3. Expect that your spouse will be stressed
Sometimes your partner will be stressed out and in a bad mood.
When that happens, give them time to cool off.
Studying, writing papers, and meeting deadlines can take a toll on any student.
So please understand why they’re stressed, and help them deal with it.
If they want to vent, let them.
Venting helps us release steam and feel better.
But always check in on them.
Ask your partner how they’re coping, and reassure them that you’re here.
4. Expect they’d say they want to quit
If your spouse hasn’t said they want to quit the program, better expect it.
At some point, your partner may feel like they’re the only ones struggling.
Like they’re way behind.
But what they don’t realize is that their colleagues are also struggling.
So when your partner says they want to quit because they can’t meet up, let them know they’re not alone.
Also, remind them of how far they’ve come.
They didn’t come this far to quit.
My husband had one of those outbursts.
He was so stressed and thought he had missed a deadline.
Dude was upset, and I was worried.
Now I laugh when I think about it.
So after spending time with his colleagues, they all talk about their struggles, and he knows he’s not alone.
5. Ways to support your spouse through their education: Find pockets of time to spend together
Another way to support your partner while they’re in school is to spend time together.
At first, my husband used to take lunch to school.
But as he understood his schedule better, he started coming home for lunch so we could spend time together.
And I started looking forward to spending lunchtime with him.
So if you prefer to pack lunch for your sweetheart, invite them to a coffee shop, or even eat at the school cafeteria, try to spend time with your partner.
It reminds you both that you have lives outside your spouse’s education.
6. You will be stressed too
While you’re supporting a spouse through their education, you will go through stress too.
Because you’ll take more chores than you used to.
And if you have kids, you’ll spend more time in your days talking to them – sometimes without breaks.
When my husband started his master’s program, our kids were too young to start school.
So I was home all day, every day with them, except on some weekends when my beau forced himself to relax.
Those days I was stressed like crazy.
And I was always looking forward to when my beau returned from school.
And even if you don’t have kids, you’d feel alone most of the time.
But you’ll be okay.
Just take one day at a time and focus on the future.
7. Ways to support your spouse while they are in school: Celebrate their small wins
Celebrate the small wins with them to support your spouse through their education.
Maybe your spouse struggled in a particular class but got a good grade; celebrate with them.
Let your partner know you’re proud of their accomplishments.
8. Remember your needs are important too
While supporting your partner through school, don’t forget your needs are important too.
Your spouse may feel like you’re doing okay because you don’t talk about it.
So make sure to remind them that you have needs too.
Once in a while, coax your partner to take breaks from studying and spend quality time with you.
While date nights are romantic and fun, you can do simpler things like watching movies, playing video games, etc.
My husband and I go to the movies once in a while.
But every evening, we watch our favorite TV shows, movies, sports, etc., together.
9. Lastly, remember your partner is doing it for the family
When your partner is studying to improve themselves, it’s easy to feel like they’re moving up and you’re down here.
But you must understand that when your spouse finishes the program and gets a better career, your family’s life will improve.
Even if I sometimes feel like my husband is doing something major, I remember he’s doing it for our family.
Besides, I’m not interested in getting a Ph.D., etc.
Instead, I’ll support him in meeting his goals and vice versa.
When I started a blog, my husband supported me morally and financially to get it to where it started making money.
And he still supports me.
So always remember that your partner’s goals can be yours and vice versa.
Conclusion on how to support your partner while they’re in school
So those are nine ways to help your spouse while they’re in school.
I hope you find this post helpful.
If you have other tips to support a spouse through their education, please share them in the comments.
Thanks for reading.
Please share this post; it would mean everything to me.
See you in the next post.
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