Our split made us STRONGER!

Bernie Jones loves her husband more after their break-up 4

- KIM WILLIS, JOHANNA BELL

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder and that’s true of me and my husband, Earl, 53. We’ve been married for 15 years and I love him more now than the day I met him. Our relationship is the strongest it’s ever been, and that’s all thanks to us splitting up.

I first met Earl at a New Year’s Eve party in 2008 when I was 35. I was drawn to his smile and personality; he was hilarious and really made me laugh. Things progressed quickly between us and, caught up in a whirlwind of romance, within weeks he had moved in with me and, just 10 weeks after meeting, we were married at a register office in March 2009.

Things didn’t slow down either, because two weeks after our honeymoon, I fell pregnant. It was a huge shock, but Earl was delighted and couldn’t wait to be a dad and, after digesting the news, I shared his enthusiasm. Overnight, my attitude changed – life was no longer about being carefree and having fun; our baby was my priority and I threw myself into eating healthily and getting things ready for our new arrival.

Earl, on the other hand, when he wasn’t working in construction, continued partying with his friends while I stayed at home. He calmed down when Caden was born in 2010, but was back to his old ways within weeks. While I cut back on spending, trying to put money aside each month to build a savings pot, Earl spent money frivolously. One day, he came home with a designer watch, which I knew cost hundreds, but when I confronted him, he shrugged off my irritation, telling me it was just a little treat to himself for working hard.