Children and long absences

[Lifeinagoldfishbowl]

If your partner/you often work away from home - how does dc react when you/he gets back?

A friend has had to be away from her dc for a couple of weeks now and is coming home in a day or so and is just wondering how DC will take her arrival?

DH worked away from us for 7 months when mine were nearly 5. He came home for a weekend every couple of weeks. Kids were fine with it - never really bothered them at all. I think they adapt quickly.

I think she's just worried that it's been 5 weeks that the dc will have "forgotten" her or not want to hug her etc

DH has been away for 4 months (4 months left), I'm hoping they'll be fine when he comes home. They weren't last time though, DS was scared of him for a couple of days but was then fine. DD has always been a bit wary of him TBH.

i was away from my ds for 4 months last year, after about a week we were fine.

I remember you going away Gem-mummy - same situation here - just hoping that the welcome home goes smoothly.

How did DH react to your sons reaction RC ?

I would guess it might depend on dc age too. my friends husband works away from home and is only back for a few days at a time. her dd seems to have adjusted quite well- to start with she woulod be all huffy with him but she now knows that daddy being home is an excuse to run rings around him.

depends on age. dh worked away from home for about six months - absent in the week, bcak for weekends - when ds was just turned 2. he didn't seem unusually upset but he was a bit off with dh the first night he got back, things would then gradually get back to normal over the weekend. i've done work trips in the past where i'd be away for four or five days at a time - ds was often a bit clingy when i got bck for first few hours but fine after that. toddlers are quite resilient i think but an older child might be more inclined t punish you for absence.