Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? I think so. Being alone for a little while is like a mini vacation for the soul, allowing you to get to know yourself better. There are opportunities for self-discovery with the quiet of the house and the extra responsibility. Essentially, these elements improve relationships.

Last week, Cory was away in Wisconsin. This isn’t something that happens too often with us, so it always feels strange when he’s traveling. Since he was gone, I was alone with the two puppies. Granted, five days is not a lot of time in the grand scheme of things. I know of women who go months without their husbands and also have to worry about their loved one’s safety – I am lucky.

For me, however, it felt too long and too short at the same time.

Let me explain. First, I’ll start with the nice stuff – what I missed. When I come home from work, Cory’s greetings always make me smile. Knowing he’s at home, on land and not in the air is also comforting. The chats and banter were lost, leaving a quiet house. I felt lonely without him to keep me company.

I missed the extra help with our dogs Kingston and Callie. They demand a lot of attention and Callie is still being house trained, so the challenges were heavy on my shoulders. I was a single pet-parent and it was not easy. I couldn’t even begin to imagine being a single parent for actual children.

Anyway, the week began in a flurry of cleaning, frequent trips outside, mediation between the pups, a meeting and work. On the first day Cory was gone, I dropped Kingston’s leash and he darted down the sidewalk to greet a frightened construction worker. He did this AGAIN Wednesday morning, sniffing everyone’s trash on his way down the street – relishing in the glory of his temporary freedom.

Yep, there’s nothing like chasing a 100-pound dog down the road in your pajamas to start the day. I was definitely awake after that. And embarrassed.

They seemed to be acting out with Cory’s absence, too. Kingston somehow snuck into the basement and then threw up on floor after eating who knows what. Callie didn’t miss an opportunity to pee in the house or chew something up. She also threw up on the couch.

Cory feeds and lets the dogs out when he leaves for work early in the morning. He also does this on the weekends, but that’s a sore subject. While Cory was gone that week, I was jolted out of bed by whimpers and whines before it was even light out. I imagine I frightened my neighbors with my zombie-like demeanor. Zoned out with boots, tousled hair and a pink robe – I was certainly an amusing sight.

Aside from the extra responsibility and early mornings, there’s also something soothing about having your partner there when you hear croaks and groans at night. I always feel safe when Cory’s home and I missed this last week. He’s like a security blanket – warm, comforting and protective.

Now, there were a few perks to having time to myself. As much as I missed Cory’s presence around the house, the distance always makes us appreciate each other. The phone calls have more meaning and we’re reminded of what we might take for granted. I know I often thought of him and counted down the days until his return.

Other than that, I did enjoy how frequently the puppies cuddled with me. Usually, they are all over Cory, pandering for his attention. That week, they rested their heads on my lap and cuddled with me at night.

Also, I like to stay up pretty late and Cory goes to bed early, which causes conflict in our home. Due to our house renovation, we are crammed into the small finished space, which means the TV and computer distract him when he’s trying to sleep. That means I am forced to bed early.

So, all week, I stayed up as late as I wanted. I cleaned, watched TV (the shows I wanted), used the computer and completed work until nearly midnight. I was very productive with those few extra hours each evening.

With Cory miles away, the house also managed to stay clean. I’ll let you draw the conclusions on that one.

On Thursday, the day he returned, I knew how much I missed him. I knew because I found myself hastily completing my paperwork and driving home faster than I normally do. When I finally arrived, I was thrilled to have him back. When I walked inside, he was cleaning up the dogs’ mess, too. Impressive.

Obviously, it felt good to hug him and hear about his work trip. The puppies were ecstatic. Kingston peed all over the kitchen when Cory walked in. Out of jealousy, I couldn’t help sharing that the puppies never even mentioned missing him, but he didn’t seem to mind. Go figure.

Now, as we get ready to spend the evening with friends – together, I’m reminded why it’s better to share your life with someone. Sure, a mini soul-vacation is fantastic every once in a while. We all need space in this busy world. But vacations just aren’t as fun alone.

Because we all need someone to navigate the trip so we don’t get lost and to make sure we don’t drown in the ocean. Or maybe that’s just me. Either way, life is better with my messy, early to bed, puppy snatching husband.