What do you do when your H has to travel for work? H is supposed to go away for training for a week in July. I'm already anxious about working, and taking care of 16 month old twins alone for a week. We have a nanny for during the day, but doing everything else freaks me out. What do you do??? Help meeeee!
Post by thinkofthesoldiers on Jun 4, 2013 22:09:38 GMT -5
1) Plan meals ahead. 2) Realize that the house doesn't have to stay super clean. If the kids are clean, and I get a shower, cool. 3) Try to shower at night to make life easier in the mornings. 4) Pull everyone's clothes out the night before and pack lunches/bags/whatever for the next day so it is ready to go. 5) Plan a day right after H gets back to get away from everyone for a few hours.
Post by speckledfrog on Jun 4, 2013 22:09:46 GMT -5
Lower your expectation. Aim for keeping them alive and fed. Anything beyond that is just icing on the cake. I usually plan on eating out at least once while he is gone and freezer meals at least once. Get a sitter for a night if you need to take a break from it for a bit. Also, it's never as bad as I think it will be.
Seriously, though, when my H has had to travel for work, I generally just do as much as I can the night before to get ready to take care of the kids (I have 3-year old twins) the next day.
So I lay their clothes out (and mine), along with diapers, get everything ready for me in the morning and cut their fruit up (they eat that in the morning before I take them to daycare) as well.
When they were younger, I laid out any of their baby food or thawed the pre-made cubes out ahead of time, had plates/cups ready for dinner that night, etc. It still sucks balls, but having that stuff prepared makes me feel a little less stressed out.
I'm sure it won't be as bad as you think, and the weather will be nice, so you can stick them in the stroller and go for long walks, which will pass the time and keep them contained!
Post by daisyheadmaizie on Jun 4, 2013 22:11:07 GMT -5
Honestly, you just do it. H has been traveling since DS was one week old. We have a 5 year old also. You prioritize just like you do any other day, and get what you can done. And, often times, I get way more accomplished or things go smoother than I anticipate, because I plan things out more in preparation for being alone.
We usually do simpler dinners while he is gone, but the rest stays the same. If something doesn't get done, oh well, it will still be there tomorrow.
Thank you. These posts are helping me believe I can make through a week. I've only had one night alone with them so far, so a week seems unreal. If H doesn't get a raise from this, I'll be pissed!
I get way more done when H isn't home. Things all go off according to planned bc H is the one who moves slowly in my house. He doesn't travel a lot, but he's in class till 10pm 3 nights a week, and SO MUCH gets done on those nights.
1) Plan meals ahead. 2) Realize that the house doesn't have to stay super clean. If the kids are clean, and I get a shower, cool. 3) Try to shower at night to make life easier in the mornings. 4) Pull everyone's clothes out the night before and pack lunches/bags/whatever for the next day so it is ready to go. 5) Plan a day right after H gets back to get away from everyone for a few hours.
Great advice. I'm a SAHM and DH goes away a ton. These are all great ideas. Also stick to the same schedule.
Post by AHappierHour on Jun 4, 2013 22:19:43 GMT -5
Yes to everything TOTS said. I honestly don't mind when he is gone. I also get more done and when the kids go to bed I can watch what ever crap I want on TV. Its not so bad. Just keep everything as simple as possible.
Yes to everything TOTS said. I honestly don't mind when he is gone. I also get more done and when the kids go to bed I can watch what ever crap I want on TV. Its not so bad. Just keep everything as simple as possible.
I like this aspect. No baseball for a week sounds amazing!
XH moved out a couple of months ago, so I've been on my own. It's definitely different, but I adjusted within a few days and now I don't give it a second thought.
Keep your expectations low, don't overdo it, you'll be fine. Like others said, try to prepare what you can the night before.
I f-ing hate it,. He leaves tomorrow morning through Saturday night and I just had mediation ordered for Thursday. I know it's going to end up going to like 8:00 and DS has to be picked up from daycare by 6:00. I then had a freak out about finding childcare, and thank God a mom of one of his little classmates can bring him home for a couple of hours. We also have three dogs and no fenced in yard, so walking them and feeding them, especially before work in the morning when I also have to get DS ready and to daycare, is such a pain in the ass. I basically suck it up and breathe a sigh of relief when DH gets home, and also wonder how single moms do it.
I f-ing hate it,. He leaves tomorrow morning through Saturday night and I just had mediation ordered for Thursday. I know it's going to end up going to like 8:00 and DS has to be picked up from daycare by 6:00. I then had a freak out about finding childcare, and thank God a mom of one of his little classmates can bring him home for a couple of hours. We also have three dogs and no fenced in yard, so walking them and feeding them, especially before work in the morning when I also have to get DS ready and to daycare, is such a pain in the ass. I basically suck it up and breathe a sigh of relief when DH gets home, and also wonder how single moms do it.
My first thought too was props to single moms! In no way could I do that. The twins will be pissed going a week without their daddy.
If he travels enough, you get used to it, but for isolated travel, especially for a full week, it can be tough.
The hardest part for me is bedtime, but I know once I make it through that I'll be able to relax. I keep their dinners simple and don't worry as much about straightening up at the end of each day just because I'm usually too exhausted. I had the girls clean up the playroom before dinner only to have them mess it up again after dinner, and by that point I was just done so the mess is still there. (H is away just for an overnight tonight.)
Aside from the toys, though, I actually find it's easier to keep the house clean when H is away, since the girls don't dirty the kitchen and bathrooms nearly as much as H does. Another bonus is that I get a chance to catch up on my TV shows instead of having to watch our shows.
I just keep the kids alive and fed, and try to relax. It's actually good for me because I tend to be a little uptight about rules and crap that doesn't really matter. When H is away, I let go of all that because I have to.
I really don't mind it. I SAH, and the hour when he;d normally come home is kind of rough. That's the point where I reeeally need a break. My solution is takeout. I don't have to cook, it's a special treat, and it breaks up the looooong day. Then it's bedtime for the kiddo and tv time for me. I watch whatever I want, eat whatever I want, and sprawl out in the middle of the bed like a starfish when its time to sleep.