Dealing with a parent being away lots on business?

[weeblueberry]

DP has been away about 2-3 nights per fortnight (always in a oner) for the last four months and it's going to continue for another six months at least.

Our nearly three year old is starting to get quite upset over it and is often having a tantrum where she says she misses daddy and wants daddy home. When she wakes up and he's gone (early flight) she gets very distressed.

I'm not sure what else we can do other than regular FaceTime when his schedule permits and talking on the phone? The other issue is that he often stays with his mum when he's away so she gets upset he's seeing grandma and she's not.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'd rather not go to him with this because I know he's already stressed enough at the thought of being away so much.

[MeadowHay]

I don't have anything to help you but I feel for you because my dad was like this and my mum hated it (and still does, because he still works away a lot). And so did me and my brother and sister. :(

[BYOSnowman]

I'm always very matter of fact about it and it is routine now. 'You know daddy needs to go away for work for a few days. He will be back Friday and will make sure he reads your favourite book/plays your favourite game etc'

I find it's worse when he calls so we tend to not talk when he's away. If we do we avoid FaceTime as it seems to be worse if they can see him!

[BlueThursday]

DH works away for a month or so at a time and for us it's not too bad just now as DD has just turned 1.

His colleagues tend to go through times where they just can't do FaceTime and things as its actually harder for their children

[7to25]

Avoid FaceTime. They can't cope for some reason and I think it is more for the adults benefit than the child's.

[CMOTDibbler]

I've travelled all of ds's life. We've always kept it very matter of fact 'mummy is going away for work, I'll be back on x'. It wasn't until ds was 7 that he was OK to talk on the phone, and tbh I think it is largely better not to speak/do facetime.

I also wouldn't talk about staying with his mum - your dd doesn't need to know that and it sounds like he's having fun without her. I present being away for work as very boring.

[weeblueberry]

Thank you all. It's DD who's requesting FaceTime which is why we've done it tbh. She seems to manage better with the promise of seeing him?