How do you cope with long periods of time apart from your DP/DH?

[wheresthecorkscrew]

My dp has just flown out to California this morning to spend the next two months team training as he's a sky diver. I'm already feeling incredibly lonely and keep welling up at the most innapropriate times - it just seems so long to be apart. If you have to endure the same thing - how on earth do you cope? I have a ds from a previous relationship who will obviously keep me occupied but it's the evenings on my own I need to tackle

hey there. My ds isnt away for that length at one time but away all week for work. It is the evenings that are the worse. I get one of my mates over for dinner when ds is in bed.. i also watch films that dh wouldnt normally sit through, think dirty dancing! I also try to pretend im glad hes not there.. like hmmmm im going to have a lurvly long bath and have the whole bed to myself tonight. It wont be easy but you'll just have to try to keep busy. x

oops i obviously meant my dH not my dS!

I mumsnet (dh currently in France)

My oh works away for 6-8 weeks at a time. Its hard for the first few days but you get into a routine quite quickly. I work full-time and have a 15 year old son which helps keep me occupied!
I read a lot, watch the things I want to see! I like cooking as well so that gives me something to do on my days off (I work shifts)
I try to see my friends at least a couple of times a month for nights out and meals etc. I go to my parents about once a week for dinner as well.
Just remember that its not forever and think of all the things you will have to talk about when he comes back. It can sometimes remind you of why you are together when you spend time apart.
Hope that helps

When my DH was away at sea and I wasn't doing my marking, I used to:
have a long hot bath
listen to music
read
not cook if I didn't want to
play computer games (which he hates)
phone relatives and friends
do some sewing
do the ironing if I was really bored
read magazines that I didn't buy when he was home
watch DVDs that he didn't want to see
catch up with all the episodes of ER that I'd recorded and never watched
mentally redecorate or rearrange the furniture
plan a list of what he needs to do around the house when he's back

Be positive - look on it as a couple of months to do what you want to do - try something you've always wanted to do, but thought he'd laugh at. Have time with your DS - plan movie nights and make popcorn, or just talk. My DS (12) enjoys it when DH is away sometimes now, as we get time together, and he has my undivided attention...he teaches me how to use the PS2 (with limited success) and I try to explain how to use a dishwasher (with no success at all!).

Being apart is a drag, but I always used to enjoy it after about 10 days, and then I'd look forward to him being back. It made me appreciate our relationship more.

Oh bless you.

I watch crap on the telly, reading and MN. TBH, by the time I've done all the housy/mummy stuff (cooking, clearing up, ironing, washing school uniforms, homework, done bath, story and bed) it is about 9pm anyway. I spend an hour relaxing with either telly/book/MN or phoning a mate or 2, or even better having them over for a pizza and a bottle of plonk. Then I toddle off to bed.

So, corkscrew, your DP is a pro sky diver. V cool.

i cry a lot too and have to sleep with the light on

The problem I found was that time seemed to slow down when DH was away. The first 24 hours was the worst (and, for some reason I always cleaned the oven, it was the only time it got cleaned!) - it seemed to last for ever. Then the first week would seem to last at least the length of three normal weeks. After that time seemed to be back to normal. As others have said I would watch the programmes/films DH wouldn't enjoy, go overboard on hobbies I didn't usually have time for, or go to stay with parents for a couple of weeks (I only did that before I had children). It will go quicker than you think at this stage.

We're the other way round - DH is mostly at home, but rarely away for more than 3 nights, and before DS I was away for work a lot (like 210 nights a year), and now I'm away maybe 7 nights a month, but one of those will be 4 nights.

I'm usually stuck in some awful hotel on my own, and watch lots of DVDs, Mumsnet, enjoy long baths and do my nails/dye my hair/wax my legs.

DH watches Sky Sports and plays on the Playstation..

There is already lot's of good advice here. I think it is good to be busy, even if it's boring household stuff! My dh works away for 6 weeks every time and until the dc's go to bed my day is pretty full. In the evenings I go on Mumsnet! read, watch dvd's.
Look forward to him coming home iykwim Dh and I are very loved up when he get's home! and your dh will be missing you too so tell him how much you miss him and plan something to do when he get's home. A night out somewhere special or a hotel - something to look forward to