I love you but go away: Women taking marriage sabbaticals

Marriage sabbaticals aren't a divorce, or an excuse for guilt-free frotting but a chance to reset priorities. But do they work?

It can be hard to figure out how to fix a relationship in need of repair when you're in the grind of the day-to-day. Living separately for a while or even taking a solo holiday can be a chance for a jump-start, but it comes with risks.

Yumi Stynes meets women who've hit pause on their partnerships in the hopes of coming back together stronger than before.

This episode will answer questions like: 

• What is a marriage sabbatical? 
• Why do women feel like they need a break from their marriage? 
• Why do some women feel like they care for their husbands like children? 
• How can you ask for a break from your relationship? 
• How do you know you’re happy in a relationship? 
• What does an equal partnership look like? 
• How do relationship preferences change over time? 
• Can having a break save your marriage? 

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You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  

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This episode contains references to sex, marriage, family, parenting, mental load, emotional labour, domestic labour, inequality, chores, perimenopause, break-ups, relationship, love, psychology, attachment.