The Struggles of a Chef Wife – Loneliness

Loneliness.

I think this might be the biggest reason that spouses and significant others of chefs find my website.  Many of us are sitting at home on Saturday nights while most of our friends are out and about . . . yet our chefs are at work and we are home by ourselves (or with the kids) and are lonely.

It’s interesting.  Loneliness has looked different to me at different times in my life.

When we were first married and my husband and I were working opposite schedules, I would get home, eat dinner by myself, and spend the night alone.  I was lonely.  I missed him.  I wished he could be home so we could spend time together.  I hated having all that time without him.

I found ways to occupy my time while he was at work.  I watched TV, worked on my weekly Bible Study, did pages in my scrapbook, etc.  But I would still think of him many times during the night and miss him.  I was lonely.  It was silent in our home and I struggled with the long hours he was working.  I hated having all that time to myself.

Fast forward 19 years and the loneliness looks different.  (I wish I had more time by myself – LOL!) (more…)

The Struggles of a Chef Wife – Scheduling Appointments

How in the world do you schedule a Dr. appointment or an appointment to leave your car for 6 hours, when your husband is a chef and you have kids?

Not easily!

Now maybe it’s just me, but as a chef wife, I struggle with this.

Let’s be honest.  There are some Dr. appointments I REALLY don’t want to go to with 3 kids.  And these types of appointments can only be scheduled M-F and usually need to be scheduled weeks in advance. (more…)

The Struggles of a Chef Wife – Worrying About Their Health and Safety

If someone asked me what the hardest part about being married to a chef was, I would say worrying about their health and safety.

The amount of hours they work in a very harsh environment are so hard on their bodies.  I really struggle with worrying about my chef/husband’s health.  I know he’s an adult and can take care of himself, I just hate to see him in pain.  He will push through it and do whatever he need to do to get the job done well and provide for us.  I am grateful for that.  It’s just really hard to know he’s working in pain.

I loved this article which talks about an older chef and his need to move to a less physical role as a chef.  It’s true.  Not many people can work on the line for 40 years.  Sure, some do.  But I would bet they are in pain for much of the time.  I’m thankful my husband has recently moved into a role that is less physical labor and seems to be easier on his body.  (Although using a mouse and keyboard still cause pain in his elbow from repetitive cutting and other movements in the kitchen for many years.) I used to worry about how he’d be able to physically continue on in his career as he got older. (more…)