Travel to Asia for work - Leaving Toddler

[PurpleMonkeysDishwasher]

Looking for some advice please! I have a toddler who’s three and I’ve been offered the opportunity to travel abroad for work for up to two weeks and I just feel so bad about leaving him. The travel would be to Asia and would no doubt be an incredible experience and really good for my career in the long run but I really don’t know how I’d leave my toddler for that long. The longest I’ve ever left him is overnight for a wedding. I will say, my DH is great and has already said he will take the two weeks of work etc and is encouraging me to go and I know my toddler will actually fine but I feel so much guilt about leaving if I decide to go. Can anyone offer words of wisdom or advice if they’ve travelled abroad and how they’ve coped. Thank you!!! 🙏

Go!!!!

Congrats - it is usually only the good and trusted employees who get such trips.

When my DC were 2 and 4 i went to Asia on a couple of two weekers. First time (I am not in UK) my mum came over to cover for me because DH couldn't get much time off work. After that we managed with my mum, one of my Sisters in law and a lot of planning.

Back then the internet and communication wasn't what it is now, so it was difficult to stay in touch, but i did call them every evening (for them) to say good night and ask about their day. Now that is all easier (unless you're going to China where the internet is more tricky)

Incidentally-he’s not great-he’s a father!

They’ll have a great son/ daddy time! And you can FaceTime every day, it’s much easier to be away than it used to be.

The main to consider is the impact of the family losing two weeks annual leave, thats a lot!

I went to North America for a week this year, and mine's only two! With video calls when you can, it will be on, especially with dad at home. Take the chance!

If the situation were reversed would you dh take this opportunity?
My dh travelled a lot with his job: China, Korea, Europe and dc were fine. We also left the dc with my mum for a week when we went to China on a pre relocation visit. It’s really easy to keep in touch.

Thankfully he has a lot of time in lieu built up and he is in the emergency services so he works shift, days on, days off rota so he wouldn’t actually lose that much leave.

Take them with you?

Yes. He went overseas for work for almost a month previously, which I also encouraged him to go. He’s absolutely encouraging me to take this opportunity, everyone in my family is but I just feel so guilty about leaving my DS for that long. I think I just need to put on my big girl pants and take the opportunity 🙈

It wouldn’t really be feasible to be honest, I’ll be visiting 5 cities in the two weeks so it will be a lot of times on planes, long work days and travel which wouldn’t be fair to him. As much as I’d love to bring him!

Go go go go go! It sounds awesome and you little one will be fine.

you have a supportive husband and a supportive family. It is a FANTASTIC chance for you to show your child that he has 2 parents.

And it will be good for your profile at work.

He’ll be fine. I went to Australia for work for 2 weeks when my eldest was 16 months. I went to the US for a few weeks when she was probably about 3. There have been lots of other trips for a week here and there over the years. It was totally fine.

The one most likely to struggle is your partner if he’s not taken on the bulk of the parenting before. Dh was always very hands on, so was no big deal, but for some dads will come as a shock how much work it is. I would get them doing bath time and bedtime and having solo days out and weekends together just to get them in a routine together.