From Business Insider · Jill Althouse-Wood · · 2m
When your husband becomes your coworker
A wife's marriage shifted when her commuting husband moved his job home full-time, forcing them to renegotiate life and work in their small house.
In brief
A wife's marriage shifted when her commuting husband moved his job home full-time, forcing them to renegotiate life and work in their small house. A couple learned to manage marriage and work in shared space by setting boundaries, creating solo time, and protecting their relationship outside the office. Originally…
Mark's commute ends
After his company was bought out, Mark found work hours away in Northern New Jersey and commuted, spending two or three nights a week in hotels and working from home on Fridays.
She had the house to herself
As an artist and writer already working from home full-time, Jill Althouse-Wood took over every surface with her art when Mark was away, clearing the dining room table on Thursdays to cook.
No more commuting
At the end of last year, Mark's company was bought out again. Months later, word came back: no more commuting. He could work from home full-time. They celebrated with a bottle of Barolo.
The timing seemed perfect
Their son had just moved out. Mark moved his desk into the now spare room of their two-bedroom Cape Cod, giving him a door he could close behind him.
Reality set in quickly
One week Mark was commuting and living out of hotels; the next he was working from their small house full-time.Jill was no longer just his wife.
Constant close quarters
Keeping the dogs quiet during his Zoom calls. Clearing her art supplies each evening. Mark's scheduled days clashed with her flexible rhythm. His office had a door. Hers didn't. They both got irritable.
They made rules
Jill wore a red bandana when she didn't want interruption.They negotiated leaving art out overnight.
Looking ahead
On their most recent date night, Jill hinted that a stand-alone art studio in their backyard might be the next step in their evolution. Mark nodded and smiled but, wisely, didn't commit.
“Mark just nodded and smiled but, wisely, didn't commit.”
The bottom line
A couple learned to manage marriage and work in shared space by setting boundaries, creating solo time, and protecting their relationship outside the office.
