To think my DH should be able to let me know before 6pm that he is not going to make it home in time to see the DC

[happypiglet]

oh I know occassionally its unavoidable when he gets stuck on the phone or a meeting but its driving me mad not knowing until the last minute....and the DC are asking me from breakfast time whether he will be home...

GRRR need to rant really.... don't mind putting all 3 to bed on my own but dealing with the emotional melt down of my DSs when they won't see him is different
Getting to the point where I am going to say don't bother to come home in the week before bed time at all- at least it would be consistent.
Need to broach it with him so no doubt he will sulk and we will have an awful evening....ARGHH

I tell dh not to come home before bedtime for exactly this reason - consistancy.

yanbu.

Would a phonecall from your dh to your ds soften the blow?

If he's busy at work you can hardly blame him for not phoning.

My DH comes home after 7pm, so my dds don't expect to see him. if he is occasionally home earlier, they get far too over excited, and then dh and I argue about who should put them to bed!

Yes but he is always bust at work how long does it take to text/ phone/ e mail me when it becomes clear he won't make it- I think its called common courtesy!!! He wouldn't do it to a client- he could even get his PA to call if he is really that busy!!!
But thanks belgo I may have to go down that route too

my dp also works long hours and doesnt let me know not because he doesnt want to but because he genuinly cannot

i always put my ds down when he is ready for bed and if dp gets home then its great but ds sknows his routine and gets used to daddies working hours

if dc ask just tell them he may not be home tonight as we all know how hard daddy works but he'll kiss you while your sleeping and see you in the morning

for us waiting at home we see them as not bothering but for them being hard at work its hard for them so dont be cross i just make sure when ds in bed and he comes home we snuggle on sofa as if i9 get upset he'll say do you think i work these hrs because i want to i would love to be with ds you get time with him all the time

so as much as we find it tough men do to

just let them know how daddy comes to check on them when there sleeping and how hard he works and how much he loves you all

i sympathise, my DP is currently being late - it really stuffs things up and i have to ring him when things get late and he says, i wont be long, then he is - because of this i end up waiting with dinner for DD then she is tetchy , then the whole evening is buggered. Last night i put her to bed, if he is not home tomight i am tempted to do the same, but like you say, she wants to see her dad and gets upset when he isnt home for bedtime.

I work on the asumption that DH will not be home for bedtime esp with dd2 as she is ready for bed by 6 - 6.30pm and dd1 goes to bed at 7pm.

I do baths stories then bed by myself, but it dh arrives home at bathtime then he deals with dd1 and i fed dd2, he has a quick cuddle then i put her to bed.

He then gets dd1 ready for bed does stories and bedtime while finish dinner.

When he get home after they are in bed then he goes and says a quick goodnight to them.