Being away from My Child for 8 months.

[user1478250761]

Hi

We have made a decision, Next year I will be away working in a remote location for 8 months.

Why? Simple the money. If I was offered double what I could earn in the UK I would turn it down.

My son turns 2 December 27th and being away from him for that amount of time (I am afraid we cannot skype, but phone calls are 'manageable' because of the location).

I am putting things in place, like recording videos and have a cuddly toy with a picture of me on it.

But To say this is easy is not the case, when I first accepted it, I cried...loads.

I then spoke to people in the navy who are away a lot and they have been great.

What I am asking is when I am away, while I accept he will be taller and talek more when I get back will i miss much else? Will this damage his development?

No, I'm not implying anything at all, just giving my opinion.
It's how I feel, I have no idea what others think, certainly not qualified to speak on their behalf.

No, I don't drive. I'd be too dangerous on the roads and wouldn't have put my kids through my driving. I have learning difficulties and don't trust myself.
But agree, the roads are dangerous places.

In other countries and cultures it is accepted that one or both parents have to go away to work and other family steps up to be the care giver.

Your DC will be fine, sadly us parents are replaceable so long as someone is loving and caring for them it's not their bio Mum/Dad who needs to be there filling that gap!

I wouldn't do it - fair enough you have a 90k deposit to put down on a house in London when you come back but on 21k a year how are you going to cope with the monthly repayments, by taking the next well paid contract abroad of course. Oh and how much of that 90k will be taken by the tax man?

My father worked abroad, mainly in Saudi from when i was born until my parents divorced when i was 9, and i would say don't do it. Look at other options, move to a cheaper area, look at getting a second job or something to create some savings. Is it really your choice to be away from your child for so long?

If the salary offered includes a very high element of danger money, Tam, which it seems to as it appears to be almost 10 times what he can hope to earn in the UK; it's a bit facile to suggest we all face similar dangers doing the school run.

I think it sounds fine. 8 months is no time at all, your child won't remember you ever being away once you've been back a while and it make perfect financial sense. Do it!