To ask what's the longest period you've been away from your children?

[HennyPennyHorror]

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Kids now 17 and 19. Husband has spent up to 6 months away at various points in their lives from birth. 3 weeks at most they've been away from me but always had daily phone or FaceTime contact.

I quite regularly do a 5-7 days abroad for work. I think i've had 17 or so days away this year already. have done since they were toddlers and they don't bat an eye these days, they have school, DH, sometimes GM, and a fantastic nanny.

13 days when my son was 2 and 15 days when he was 4. I had to travel overseas with work. He was fine, he was with his dad. I missed him but still enjoyed the trips!

I was in a specialist hospital away from them for 7 weeks when they were 10 and 6 although they did come and visit twice in that time, that was really hard but we didn't have a choice, without some specialist skills and equipment I would have died.

Pre-school age - 2 nights
Primary age - 5 nights
Secondary age - 10 days

6 days. She's 18

10 days more than once and frequently away for a couple of nights. Kids don't mind at all and it's nice sometimes to have a break!

Never

A week for the eldest when he went on a summer camp thing.

I've only been away from both of them at once for a few hours. But DS2 is really little still.

Two and a half weeks when DD1 was just turned 2, when my father died and I had to travel to Australia for the funeral and to sort his estate. DH stayed at home.

In the last two years, 4 nights with work, a few times a year (DDs 6 and nearly 4).

DH regularly spends 3 or 4 nights away with work.

I miss them but they're well looked after. We FaceTime daily. I enjoy the leisurely mornings and free time after work

7 days. It's the only time I've been away from them and I did miss them a lot. I went to a wedding abroad and it was good to have some time to myself but it was equally as good to get home to my family.

About 90 minutes when DH took him into town, but he's only 18 weeks and in a couple of Sundays time we are actually going out for the evening to the theatre and lovely SIL is watching him for a few hours while DB looks after their two at home. I'll be happy for him to stay away when he's a bit older (I used to go on holiday as a child with GPs and so did DH) and there's a need, I'm on mat leave at the moment so available all the time.

3 nights, 2 full days, usually during some school holidays.

5 days - dc stay with each set of grandparents for a week each in the summer holidays. I can't say I like it but I speak to them every day and they seem to really love the time with their grandparents.

My Ds went on a charity/school trip in yr10 to Africa. He was away for 3 weeks.

Long time when their 15 and very little means of communication.

But what an experience for him.

2 nights for a wedding in a different country.

I couldn’t wait to get home.

We have no plans to leave him again anytime soon!

First time, was two nights with work when she was 9 weeks.

Regularly since then, work and occasional pleasure, max 11 nights.

DH and I left her with a combo of family members for four nights for an NYC trip two years ago, she was 3.

4 days. Hospital.

DS is 3 in May and the longest I’ve been away is for work during the day, but I didn’t go back to work until he was almost two and I work 21 hours a week. I’ve not been ready to leave him over night before... but I’m gagging for it now!!

10 day business trip, they were 5 and 2. I enjoyed the break but was really starting to pine for them after a week! Done a couple of 5 day trips since. That's long enough for me and DH

Dc1 5 days...my MIL takes her away to see her cousins regularly for long weekends throughout the year. She's been going since she was 2.5 years old.

Dc2. About 12 hours. Although I'm going away for 4 days in a couple of months for a family event and I'll be leaving the 2 kids at home with dh for some well deserved peace and quiet.

2 nights for a weekend away with a friend. For DH 3 nights for similar. Hoping to go for 3-4 nights for my birthday next year

10 days for a work trip to Australia. She was 17 months and it was great.

I think a week or just over a week? I have 50:50 custody with DD's dad so used to not having her all the time

4 nights when our son went on a school trip. He was fine, but it felt very weird.

Other than that just occasionally overnight when they have stayed with family or one of us is away with work.