Looking for a bit of advice with breastfeeding and just generally coping with the week away.
My kids 5,3 and 19 months are staying with their dad for a week this Saturday.
They've never spent more than 24 hours with him before and they've only seen him for one day in the last 5 months so I'm incredibly nervous about the whole thing. Not just on his it'll affect them (my 3yo completely regressed with the toilet after she last saw him and has severe separation anxiety with me). But also I'm still breastfeeding my 19mo, and I've never managed to get a pump to work. Will she forget how to latch being away for so long? She's definitely not ready to stop BF yet, she asks for it regularly.
I was never away from my other two at all so I've got no experience with it.
Is it the right thing to do for my 5 and 3yo? They do ask to see him but both were badly affected by it last time as he just doesn't make regular effort. And will my 19mo be okay without milk for that long? I'm very worried that she doesn't really have much attachment to her dad too so it might feel to her like the equivalent to leaving her with my sister for a week (who we normally only see twice a year) although she actually knows my sister better because she calls them and he doesn't.
I feel like I'm doing the wrong thing, but also like I can't say no because then it'll look like I'm the reason he doesn't make an effort. And God forbid it ever goes to court I don't want to give him any ammunition. But I don't want to do the wrong thing by the kids for a what if court scenario either.