Dh changing roles at work and going to be going overseas on business trips...

[RMCW]

...and I was wondering whether any of you whose partners work abroad alot have any tips for me to save my sanity and make things easier for me whilst he is away?

He has wanted to move out of his current role for a while and has been given the opportunity to become sales and marketing manager but this will mean lots of travel, to europe and also the far east and US and south america. He loves travelling so I am smiling and being supportive but I am REALLY dreading it

We have 2 young dc aged 7 and 2.
I have a chronic health condition and because of this dh does his fair share of childcare.

My PIL are very helpful when they can be, my parents not.

Is there anything I can do wrt preparing them (and me!) for him not being there?

The MD of the company has no dc and is not very understanding of those that have....he wont always get much notice of trips (when ds1 was 2 he was given only a days notice of a 9 day trip to the far east!!)

I feel I ABU in being so unhappy about it as he is looking forward to it.

any tips??

You need a big freezer. Batch cook soup and pasta sauce and freeze it in portions. If DH is away, dinner from scratch is the thing that pushes me over the edge (I also work 50 hours/week), so we almost always have veggie soup + cheese on toast every night while he's away.

I usually feel less tired, though, because I tend to go to bed at 9 or 9.30 rather than hang around watching crap on TV with DH.

Just to post a note of support. I have a 7 & 2 year old RMCW and have seen you on quite a few of the posts I have posted on recently.
I have had diabetes for 35 years and am struggling on a pump. Ds1(7) has possible Aspergers, and ds2(2) is like a tazmainian devil.
Dh has just got his dream job as an Ops Manager/ General Manager and is working 18 hour days since Xmas. He used to be home at 5.10pm. And he will be going to Florida, Canada, Sweden and Far East.
I am just jealous that I can't go too !!

I will join you for the ride

oblomov thanks for the support...so sorry to hear of your health problems.

Your dc are the same age as mine! My ds1 has got possible SEN and I often describe my ds2 as exactly that!

Am grateful for the company x

My DH has worked abroad for varying periods over the last 15 years. I work in London and can't really say I found it any more difficult with him being away than it was when he's home, but then I did all the nursery / school runs , cooking, housework etc. Only thing that was a pain was I had no one to look after DS so I could never go out on my own in the evening (I know, I should have employed a babysitter...)

From your post I would say you need to prioritise trying to improve your health in the areas it can be improved - you need to be as fit as you can be, as if you end up asking your DH to come home when he's supposed to be away it may put his job in danger.

You will get used to it. Dd1 (4) is a real daddy's girl and hates it when DH us away. We use webcams as they love seeing where Daddy is staying. They can see his bed and tv and it gives them a picture to imagine. We also wave at the sky every evening before bed and 'speak' to Daddy and tell him goodnight andcwe love him. I found this all helps. I just remind them that daddy would much rather be at home with them and poor daddy has to be away and doesn't get to do .........