I do overnights alone 5 days a week and have for years and will do for many more years. DH does come home in time to drop kids off at school. I then come home from work in time for him to pick up the kids and go back to work. So he never travels but it feels like I solo parent the majority of the time.
I'm lucky that my number is 0. I travel for work more than DH does, so his would probably be around 20. I am in awe of some of you. Being a single parent all the time or most of the time sounds like something only a superhero can do.
I voted 31-60 days but it may be more. H travels often for work, but he goes through spurts where he's traveling every week and then no travel for a month. Sometimes just an overnight, sometimes up to four or five nights. I don't even keep track anymore.
Plus in the summer I often take the kids to my parents' beach house during the week while H joins us on weekends. Sometimes my mom and/or my sister and her kids are also there during the week, but I probably get another 5-10 days on my own down there over the summer. But it's different when it's by choice ... and at the beach. lol.
Post by jeaniebueller on Aug 3, 2015 7:50:24 GMT -5
Hmmm....maybe 2? He has gone on a few weekends away with friends, but the few other times he has been gone, either my mom or MIL have been around to help.
ETA: I encourage him to go away and take time with his friends more, but he is a workaholic so it doesn't happen.
He was gone for 5.5 weeks in October/November. Since then, he's been gone 5 nights I think.
There are plenty of days though that, due to work, DS and I don't see him when we get up in the morning and don't see him until the following day. Having been on both sides where he's physically in another state and when he's physically in the same city, it doesn't feel any different to me. He's still hands off while at work and all parenting/responsibility falls 100% on me.
Post by Ashley&Scott on Aug 3, 2015 8:17:07 GMT -5
6 days - DH went to stay with his parents when he dad had knee replacement surgery last February. Since FIL isn't in the best health & also has dementia DH (understandably) wanted to be there for the surgery & recovery until he was transferred to the rehab facility. It's a good thing he went, MIL desperately needed the help & support.
He was gone for 5.5 weeks in October/November. Since then, he's been gone 5 nights I think.
There are plenty of days though that, due to work, DS and I don't see him when we get up in the morning and don't see him until the following day. Having been on both sides where he's physically in another state and when he's physically in the same city, it doesn't feel any different to me. He's still hands off while at work and all parenting/responsibility falls 100% on me.
This is the point I was trying to make. I actually prefer when DH is OOT because that means after I solo parent and DS goes to bed I get to be alone in the house ALL BY MYSELF. Whee!
Define other adult? I stayed with friends for part of my Paris jaunt, but they had their own kids to take care of in the same house and didn't do much to help with mine, except for occasionally throwing DD in the bath with their own children or making dinner while I put DS to bed. I was still responsible for one or the other child of mine for most of a 24-hour period save when they were sleeping.
So, I count that as 30 days. I voted 31-60 because DH has had multiple work trips in the last year that add to that Parisian 30 number.
0. I think DH has only gone away 2 times for 24 hour periods in the last 5 years, and neither were in the last year.
ETA: actually, I change my answer. I have taken the boys to visit my family, and to go camping, without DH. So I solo-parented, but by choice as I could have not gone away those times. So, 6-10 days.
I would think it should still count if DH leaves before the kids get up and comes home after they're in bed. But following the rules of your thread we're probably at 20 days away.