guess i'd want the spouse to be calm, supportive, and compromising - be ready to make changes in lifestyle until cash flow is back to positive - trim down on discretionary spendings, maybe move to a smaller place, give up on certain things without complaining, understand without the need for babying that all this is necessary, help find way to reduce household expenses, be pleasant and help out with job searches, maybe find one herself if she isn't employed.
basically be a mature intelligent adult about it and help work the situation out as a team. at the very least not panic and create even more stress at home. definitely not start with "my mom thinks you should..." or "oh god what will happennn to usss :(".
no "i should have listened to daddy and married that doctor, so what if he was bald" either.
Plus
File unemployment right away...................
Apply for WIC.................
Apply for Link card..............
Cut down luxuries.............
No dine out.............
Check your EDD account & see how much u 've comulated there.
This will help u big time for 18 months and I hope the dust will settle down by then.