Traveling with work and worried for my 19 month old

[nicoleannette]

Hi All,
I'm going away with work for a week, leaving on Saturday. I'm feeling awful about it and wish I pushed back a bit - but flights are booked and I can't go back on it. I'm so worried for my 19month old daughter - she's a mummy's girl and loves the cuddles. She'll be with her dad who she has a strong bond with which is reassuring, but she will struggle without me. I feel so guilty, I'm actively, knowingly causing her pain. I'm worried that it'll affect our bond. Am I overthinking this? Has anyone else been away for a week or so? How was it?
Thank you.

Both me and Dh travel with work. DS is absolutely fine every single time.
I went to Vietnam for a week with work when DS was 2 and a half ....we facetimed a couple of times a day which helped.

She'll be absolutely fine and it will be a lovely time for her with her dad. I went away for about 2 weeks when my first was 17 months - 5 days to the US and then back and then a few days later, I left for 10 days to Australia. It was a wonderful time for them. I also got to get ahead on some work things that mattered to me - and get some much needed rest and time to myself as well. I had absolutely no regrets and when I came back it was like I had never left. She'll be fine.

She will be fine, don’t worry! Slightly different but I’d never left my son until I was in hospital having his brother when he was 18 months. I am a stay at home mum so he’s used to being with me all time time and is very attached. He was fine and barely even noticed. He was happy to see me but didn’t seem to have been upset at allZ

You really need to calm down. She won’t struggle, you’re not choosing to harm her, she will be absolutely fine.

She will be fine. It's not for very long and you can use messenger to talk to her. Parents in the military especially are away for many months and their kids are fine

Thanks - clearly overthinking this! Feel much more relaxed... I'm a worrier, in case that didn't already come across!!

You'll be fine! I've had to travel with all my babies, it is hard but manageable.

My biggest tip is to speak in the mornings and NOT in the evenings - I realised that it made me feel better to speak to them before bed, but harder for them, especially as I'd usually be the one doing bedtime.
Instead we would speak in the morning, and then at bedtime when old enough my husband would take a video of them waving goodnight (but not show them one of me, at this age they can't really tell if it's you or a recording).

Make sure you put aside plenty of time for snuggles when you get back, but also don't be too upset if (like my ds3) she holds back a little at first too, things will always come around.

If you make this a thing, she will too. Honestly she’ll be fine