Celebrity chef Ina Garten says a temporary split improved her marriage.
A relationship expert weighs in on whether it might work for you.
Jeffrey kind of brought me up, Garten said.
He was like the parent, I was like the child.
And Im incredibly grateful that he did that, but I couldnt shift gears to being partners.
And then I thought, Oh, what am I doing here?'
relationship and sex therapist, founder atThe Center for Modern Relationships
She asked Jeffrey to go to therapy while the two were apart, which he agreed to.
Looking back, Garten now understands how that big decision could have turned out poorly.
However, it ultimately turned out to be crucial for the success of their marriage.
The temporary separation enabled them to reassess their relationship on equal terms.
It was like a whole new relationship, Garten said.
He shifted gears; I shifted gears.
He wanted to travel [in his policy role] with the State Department more.
I wanted to do things [with the food store].
But dont approach the situation lightly, relationship and sex therapistMichelle Herzog, LMFT, CST, tells Well+Good.
Can a relationship break truly work?
Herzog emphasizes that its rarely as simple as taking time apart.
The real work happens in how the couple uses that time to address their relationships core challenges.
It certainly seems like the Gartens used their time wisely.
They both shared their deepest concerns and, more importantly, listened to one another.
Six weeks later, they came out stronger than everand are now officially #relationshipgoals royalty.
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