DH's long work trip

[Covetingmychildrenseyelashes]

Not sure if this is the right place to post, but DH has a six-week work trip coming up in October/November. We have two DSs who will be 2.10 and 16 months at the time.

They are used to him being away quite a lot in the week (for quite a while they did not see him from Sunday evening until Friday morning), but I'm worried that this long an absence will really unsettle them. That said, I'm also wary about trying to prepare them TOO much, and ending up unsettling them more, if that makes sense.

My thoughts were that no more than a couple of weeks before, we'd talk about daddy getting on a plane and going away for work, but say that he would be back later, and that we'd do something special (not quite sure what, but we'd work something out) when he comes back. Does that sound about right for this sort of age?

DS1 (2.10) is developing a sense of time, so another thought I had was a chart that marked off days until DH comes back, or just a simple (or pictorial) calendar where I could show him.

I'm making plans with various friends for DH's absence, so we'll have nice, fun things to do at the weekends (week day absences are fine).

Advice gratefully received!

I would just try and fill the time up. My dh was away for two and a half month when my youngest was two. She missed him for the first week but then she got over it. Then at the end, she started to really miss him.

I think if you gave a chart you will draw attention to him not being there. I might be wrong though.

What savoycabbage said. I'd concentrate on the remaining constant - you - and your time with them.

Will you be able to Skype?
I found that keeping in touch daily helped.

Thanks everyone. Skype should be fine, though - because of where he's going - it won't necessarily be at predictable times and may be a bit haphazard. It's helpful to know that I should focus on what we're doing at home, rather than worrying about DH's absence.