My husband works abroad for 2 weeks each month while I watch the kids. The arrangement has strengthened our marriage.

• Kalvinder Osahan's husband, Bharminder, spends half of each month living and working abroad.
• The mom of two looks after their children solo.
• She told Business Insider their marriage is strong despite her spouse's routine absences from home.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kalvinder Osahan, 43. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I count down the days until my husband, Bharminder — whom I call Bobby — gets home from work every month after a two-week stint abroad.

We live in the southeast of England, and since he's based in Germany, there's about 400 miles and the English Channel between us.