How to manage DS handover to father, help please!

[lemurtamer]

Can anyone give me their advice/experience on best way to manage father leaving DS after weekend visit. We've just started this and soon DS (2 1/4) will anticipate what's going to happen, but yesterday when father dropped off DS I asked him to say goodbye, rather than disappear when DS not looking. That went fine, but when DS saw father drive off he pointed out of the window and screamed. This made me wonder if father's idea of slipping out is a better one.
DS goes to nursery Monday so sometimes might be possible to handover through that, but not always as father works away often.
We're not (yet) acrimonious but of course DS misses his father.

I'm no expert at all but I think it is better for children to say goodbye to a parent so that they know that each time it happens, the parent will come back again. It helps with their security. If you just slip out, then your DS won't acknowldege that you've gone and may not know that you're coming back IYSWIM

Get your ds' dad to say goodbye and tell him the next time he will see ds. Might help put ds mind at ease. Welcome ds with a hug and let him know youve missed him or something like that so he associates coming back with mummy being pleased. HTH

I agree the slipping out bit might seem easier in the short term but won't get your DS properly used to the idea of what's going on. It's still early days and will take a bit of time for all of you to get used to it - if you can talk in terms of "after you've woken up in the morning times it will be the day Dad will be back to see you again" that might make it a bit more tangible to your son.

Thank you for this advice, it's what I suspected but Sunday was so difficult. It's hard to know how to help DS with his sadness without relying on biscuits or treats.
I think I'll try a days of the week picture to give him the idea of when the next visit will be, though it'll probably be while before he gets this idea.