AFTER THE DANCE SERIES
HOW COUPLES SURVIVE QUARANTINE
At this time last year our normal everyday lives had chance. Everyone was trying to manage the restraints Corvid19, financial challenges and children being home school. All of these factors and more can be trying on relationships and marriages.
I contacted clients and friends whom have now been married for a few years to ask four questions that relate to wedding planning, marriage, and being quarantine for an extensive period of time. The male perspective on the wedding planning process is always intriguing and important to me.
I received and overwhelming and enlightening response. I hope everyone can take something positive from the couples responses and be inspired. After the Dance, the couples develop tools that work for their relationships. Enjoy how they have implemented elements over time that attribute to the success of their marriage.
Photographer: Syed Yaqeen
AFTER THE DANCE
Q: What do you feel has strengthen your relationship while quarantine?
John & Tabitha: We enjoy dinning together. Cooking a meal together and watching a simple movie together is special for us. Doing things that positively affect what we have made and making together is good for us. I don’t know if being stuck in the house has made an impact because John still has to work. But I can say discussing things more has changed. We are caring for John’s father through CORVID-19 pandemic. This has made John need more support from me to listen to him about his responsibilities and stressors. Seeing his love evolve for his father ( actions and deeds ) has strengthen my respect for him. John doesn’t quit showing affection for those he love. I see that more since being quarantined.
James & Kizzie: This quarantine has been both difficult and enlightening. Unable to get alone time as much as we use too, and schedule our weekly date nights is difficult. Ironically, we actually have become closer during all of this. We find it kind of sexy to sneak off to different parts of the house, just to get a hour or two of time alone. We cook together more often. (something we rarely have time for ) Quality time with the family has definitely increased. We do regular movie nights, Taco Tuesday, Fish Fry Friday and Soul Food Sunday. We take walks together as a family through the neighborhood, play outside with the kids. All of this was almost impossible to do prior to the quarantine. James and I have several businesses that we manage ourselves on a daily basis. Making time for each other and family is difficult but so needed.
Xavier & Courtney: Finding new ways to have fun with each other and enjoy each other company besides going out to eat and the movies. Talking more about stuff that makes us laugh, not always talking about work or plans for the future but really just enjoying each other’s company.
Brian & Jerri: Slowing time down. Spending more family quality time. Seeing each other more as in actually taking time to see and acknowledge each other and all the things that go into who we are individually and as a unit.
Marquis & Rachel: Our intimacy level has continued to increase while in quarantine. It gives us the opportunity to enjoy each other while not focusing so much on business. Because we work together its almost a daily that there is a “child” we have to meet or discuss details about. Since our world has slowed down, it gives us an opportunity to do what we love most and that’s each other.
LaSae: We honestly love to spend time together. All of our free time is pretty much together. The quarantine has been a BLESSING for us. Crystal has to go to work two days a week, we can’t wait until she gets off. Being able to just sit around and play games, watch TV has been great for us. I think it really helps that Crystal and I were friends first and loved being together. The quarantine has been easy for us. We have been bless to have a healthy marriage. We get along very well. We do not argue, we can’t stay mad at each other, I have no complaints. I truly believe I have the best wife in the world!!
Crystal: Since the quarantine just being together as a family has given us strength. You learn to appreciate one another and everything God continues to do for us. We had been asking for rest and he has given us just that. Having LaSae pray over me before I leave for work and just knowing he and the kids are praying for me gives me strength. Coming home to see their faces gives me strength. Time together has made us stronger and closer.
Chad & Robin: We have a strong marriage because we are also friends. Being in quarantine allows us to spend more time with each other, and it reminds us of our phrase, “I still like you!” Our quirks drive each other crazy sometimes, but our friendship drowns those things out. I travel often for his business but I have been home longer than normal due to the safer at home order. Robin works at an organization that is considered an essential service and she works two days a week. Those who struggle in their relationships prefer to be apart. However, she finds herself yearning to be home to hang out with her husband whenever she is away!
Ray & Laura: At this time I’m in Florida because of the quarantine. We have a winter home here. I was supposed to fly home in March. We canceled my flight due to the highly contagious COVID-19 virus. Ray and I Face-Time everyday. (often more than once a day). We are on live chat for hours. We have fun with it. Sometimes I take a bath while we are Face-Timing each other. Other times, we chat while sipping wine and watching the same movie on TV. This is our date night. Every night we pray together, and chat about the scripture we’ve read. We read PS 91 daily. We sing together and worship God. We also laugh a lot. We talk about what’s going on in the world, his work, what each of us has done throughout our day.
Please leave a comment on things you feel strengthen your relationship while quaratine.
AFTER THE DANCE SERIES 2 - Challenges and Resolutions
