Has anyone else had to be apart from young dcs for more than a month? struggling!!!

[justonemorethread]

Hello. For medical reasons I have had to come back to the UK (having baby)
Left dcs, 8 and 5 with dh. They are two long flights away, and every time I speak to dh I just hear how everything is fine but he's tired and it's not easy with early morning school run. All this over a rubbish crackly line on Skype.
Hardly ever get to speak to dcs.
Staying on my own in UK until they join later.

This seemed to be most sensible plan so as to nor disrupt their schooling and routine. I would have preferred to bring them with me and put the in local school her for a term.
Was I being unreasonable? Is it really that important to keep to same routine?

I'm happy to have this month to myself etc etc, but it just doesn't feel natural being away from my dcs, I sort of worry they won't understand and feel abandoned.

Don't know what replies I'm really after, just wanted to whinge!

[justonemorethread]

Oh dear, just me then?

[Gotosleep123]

I've no experience sorry but didn't want to read and run. That sounds very hard, especially when you are pregnant too. I guess you have to remember it won't be forever and you will be all together soon.

[Seriouslyffs]

No experience here either but it must be very painful. They're old enough to understand what's going on and I'm sure they'll laying down great memories of the time dad sent us into school with wrong clothes/ funny lunch etc.
Can you make communications any easier? Apple FaceTime is excellent and free, facebook messaging also instant.

[Seriouslyffs]

^^ painful for you- I'm sure they're missing you but not acutely.

[justonemorethread]

Thanks! I guess flowers and sympathy is the best I can get for now. Dad is doing fine, and I'm sure they are busy enough not to be suffering. And I get to have a bowl of cereals for dinner without menu planning.
And wake up at my own speed in the mornings. So must try to make the most of that, though I'd rather have dd's little knees poking in to my ribs at 5am, never thought I'd be wishing for that!!!
Thanks for the replies. Will keep it together!

[Seriouslyffs]

Are you near friends or family? Can you do stuff you can't do with dcs? Cinema, galleries, museums, music, eat stuff they hate?

[FiftyNineOhEight]

I had to leave then 4 year old DS1 for 6 weeks or so when I was expecting DS2 - a similar situation to yours, except I went to a third country nearby. Like you we decided it was better not to disrupt DS1's routine (and it would have been no fun for him to live in a hotel for a month). It was hard, but the time went quite quickly in the end. 14 years on he doesn't remember being left to hang out with DH/his nanny/his pre-school friends instead of me

[justonemorethread]

serious I have been doing all of those things and thoroughly enjoying them! But two weeks in the novelty is wearing off a bit. I'm really glad to have this rare moment of freedom from domestic duties, but it very much mnakes me appreciate my little family, no matter how exasperating they can be!!

[Seriouslyffs]

DHs mum had to leave him in his dad's care overseas for a family emergency. None of them can remember how long for, it was definitely weeks++ the only thing they do remember was him being one of the three kings in a borrowed dressing gown and tea towel!