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Anyone else with a partner that works shifts/works away?

2 replies

ScoochUp · 28/02/2026 19:51

How do you manage it? My husband works evenings, weekends, some days. Have to keep the kids quiet in the mornings when he’s done a late shift, take them to school, I work, collect them and do tea and bedtime alone as he’s gone back to work. Spend many (but not all) weekends alone with the kids.

We see friends and family at weekends, go out, do sports, parties, events and so on. But the nights and weekends often feel quite lonely. I feel like all our friends are together as a family and we’re the only ones that aren’t!

Obviously I know it could be much harder and I could be a single parent etc. Maybe it’ll get easier when the weather improves and we can be outside more/later.

How do you find it?

OP posts:
Daisymae55 · 28/02/2026 19:58

My husband has to go away a lot for work. I’ve been with him 10 years and I still find it really hard.

Honestly, the main thing that keeps me going is focussing on DD. She really struggles when he is away, so my focus is trying to do nice things to keep her spirits high.

We’re lucky he doesn’t go away as much now as he did when she was 2 and under, but even so it’s still really hard. Just because other situations are harder doesn’t make your one any less tough.

I try to be really kind to myself when he is away. I game as a hobby so it’s a nice outlet to let off steam and relax after DD is in bed and to take my mind off the stress.

I do think this weather has made everything a million times harder. It’s been SO miserable. We finally had a couple of nice days this week where we could go for a walk/to the park/on her bike after preschool and the difference it made to both of us was huge!

Sending solidarity - it can be really hard

HaperVouge · 28/02/2026 20:08

It’s the opposite in our house, my job takes me all over the world. My husband also works full time and when I’m away he is with both our children (school and nursery age) although they are used to it as it’s all they’ve ever known. I will forever be grateful to him that he just gets on with it. I totally get it though as when the tables turn and if he’s ever away it can be hard solo parenting. Definitely having a set routine and when the kids are in bed find something for you & then really make the most of your time together as a family when he’s home.

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