If it's a relationship worth saving and both parties still love each other then yes, but a time out does not mean "sleep around", unless you're not wanting to get back into the relationship.

I have never seen a relationship work out after a man impregnated a woman during one of these time outs. Nine times out of ten, the wife will feel offended and will not want anything to do with that child, the other woman, or her husband, so keep that in mind if you really want to salvage the relationship...

Why not start dating your spouce and doing kind things for them to keep your marriage alive instead of ignoring them and waiting for things to get so bad that seperating becomes the only way to rekindle your marriage?!? The thing is, Seperating worked for this couple because they were willing to try again. Seperating will not work for everyone. When you involve God in your family and keep the focus on him, it's easier to stay focused on what is more important in life. People give up too easy these days. Marriage is tough, but it's worth working and sacrificing for one another.

I wanted to comment on this discussion because I went through this same situation. My husband and I did not decide on a "break" for a little time, but decided to leave each other for good. We were on a downward spiral and no vacation, god, or therapy was going to help our relationship!! We had been married for 10 years, 2 young children, and we married because of TRUE love! However, Financial problems created our downward spiral. I even dated someone in our break. However, when it came down to it, and we started to spend time together with all of our Christmas traditions and getting snowed in together for our children we fell back in love. Yes!! I totally agree on a break!! We took a break for 10 months. Because nothing was going to help us. Now it could have been a little more controlled. But it helped because I did end up marrying my bestfriend and our children deserve their family together! 3 years later, We are as in love as we were when we 1st got married.

Yes, this can work if, as the article said, therapy is involved and both people are willing to try. If there's a serious breach in the marriage, sometimes just being around the other person raises such levels of anger nothing positive can occur. They still love each other, but can't move forward. A structured break, with individual and couples therapy can help each person reconnect with the reasons they fell in love with each other in the first place. I've seen it work with 2 couples in my family.

I would have thought so...My idea was to use the old theory "You don't know what you have until it's gone"...Well two weeks after we "temporarily split up" he found the "love of his life." We had been together 20 years (married for 16) and he found her within two weeks...I wouldn't recommend this idea to anyone who has a man/woman in their life that uses the excuse "I just couldn't be alone."

Nothing shocked me more than the day my wife suggested that we separate. Sure, things hadn't been good for years, but I was committed to trying to make things better. She, on the other hand, didn't share my optimism. Shortly after this discussion, she was dating someone new and told me how much she loved him. In the meantime, she had to move home to avoid the house going into foreclosure, but still dated this other guy. All the while, she was proclaiming that this was something that she needed to do, and everything would work itself out the way it's supposed to. Finally, after months of gut wrenching torture, and listening to her say she just needed to "see what was out there" she told me she never really wanted to make things better. With that, I told her that I would maintain the house, and suggested she move on. Now that I'm happy and living with someone who actually wants to be with me, she's pawing at the door wanting back in like a puppy in the rain.

I tried for years to help the situation. It wasn't till after there was nothing left in me for her, she realized that she wants back in. She was right about one thing though. Things worked out the way they should have.

being single is so stress free compared to life 2 months ago.

This is good if both parties involved has an understanding, but when you are not even speaking, nor talking or communicating how can you except to make anything work. and in my case I have suggested date nights, walk in the park or just to sit and talk and you cant even take the time out to do that, what do you do in this case. cause in my eyes I am taking it that the spouse doesnt want the marriage at the moment or try and put the pieces back together

Everytime my wife and I get into a disagreement, she threatens to leave me and says we need to separate for a while. I think this is just an excuse for people who think the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I've already forgave her for the affair she had with a next door neighbor after 8 yrs of marriage and we have now been married for 26 yrs. I think she just thinks it's a way to get away and start over with someone else and leave all the problems and stress on my shoulders. I am not a believer in this taking a break attitude.