Murugi Munyi: Lessons from long-distance marriage
Renowned content creator Murugi Munyi has candidly shared the difficulties she faced in coping with a long-distance marriage after her husband relocated to the United Kingdom for a new job.
In an exclusive interview with Nairobi News, Murugi admitted to the emotional toll of being the sole parent to their three children during the seven months of separation.
“My husband relocating to the UK was a really tough thing for me early this year. When you are raising three kids alone, it is very hard than when you have the other person helping you,” Murugi revealed.
She described moments of tears and the challenges of managing the household without the support she was accustomed to.
“This was the longest we have ever been apart. I went twice and he came once. I didn’t care how much we would spend,” she said.
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The content creator also spoke about the family’s ordeal earlier in the year when her parents faced health issues, adding to the emotional strain.
“My dad had an accident earlier this year. I feel like most things… Even thinking about my husband being away for all those months makes me want to cry,” Murugi confessed.
Despite the hardships, Murugi highlighted the valuable lessons the separation taught her and her husband about the essence of their marriage.
“It taught us a lot of things about marriage. We have learnt how to appreciate each other even more, it taught us how to know the value of the other person,” she shared.
Murugi expressed the hope that, if faced with another international opportunity, they could undertake it together as a family.
Reflecting on her six years of marriage, Murugi shared advice for couples, emphasizing the importance of choosing a life partner who is not only loved but also a true friend.
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She encouraged couples to avoid societal pressure and base their decisions on genuine friendship and compatibility.
“Choose a life partner who is not just someone you love, but also a true friend. Avoid getting married solely due to pregnancy or societal expectations.
Don’t base your decision on whether the person fits society’s ideal image of a good partner. Instead, marry someone with whom you share a genuine friendship, someone you’d still want to be friends with even if you weren’t married.
Take the time to carefully consider the decision to get married before entering into this lifelong commitment.”
As Murugi described 2023 as a good year for her, she acknowledged the challenges she faced but highlighted the positive aspects for herself, her business, her children, and her family.