by Gina Jacobson, a wife, a mom, a leo. She works for a non-profit organisation, is a procrastinator, loves sci-fi, sushi, good books and scrabble. Her blog is made up of A Bit of This a Bit of That.
On Tuesday I leave my husband and my baby for 10 whole days, I wont even be in the same country.
I have never left Aaron for more than a night at a time and then he is just up the road at my mom and I can get to him in 5 minutes if I need to. Paul has been overseas or to Cape Town or Durban a few times but its not the same. This time its me that wont be here.
I am dreading being away from my family for so long but as Paul pointed out, I will at least be able to get a full nights sleep while I’m away…
We haven’t really told Aaron that I will be going away, Im not too sure how much of the concept he will understand and I don’t want to upset him unnecessarily. I will be going to work as usual on Tuesday morning and then coming home at lunch time to collect my bags and a travel companion and then off we go to the airport.
We have decided against Aaron coming with, he has been a few times and I think the airport is a little overwhelming for him, with all the people and the noise. So I will be saying goodbye to him at home.
I will be able to talk to them both on Skype as I am taking my laptop with me and as both my laptop and Paul’s are equipped with cameras we will be able to see each other which will definitely help.
I am going to get a small stuffed animal for Aaron to give him when I say goodbye, something just from mama especially for Aaron.
Have you been away from your family for long stretches? How do you handle goodbyes? Do you tell your little ones before hand? How do you prepare them? How do you cope with being away from them for so long?
Hi my friend
I get you, totally. I have to travel for work often and it kills me to be away from Cam.
I always make it a priority to bring her back something from where I have been. And to give her a calm goodbye.
Aaron and Paul will be okay, that I can promise you. they’re gonna be total boys and leave their socks on the floor, watch rugby and have a lot of fun.
🙂
thinking of you
xxx
Well, Star Trek or some other sci fi show instead of rugby… 🙂
Thanks my friend!!
Love the new photo!!
From experience you miss them more than they miss you..he will be fine enjoy your time away
I think we will both miss you a lot! This will be a good reminder of all the things you do for us which I still manage to take for granted.
First time I went away for two weeks, it was hard but it felt less stressful because mommy was still around. I would call every day, several times, and my son would be off playing, not interested in talking on the phone (at 2, not much to say though).
The hardest was recently both my wife & I left the country for 10 days and left him with my wife’s aunt. It was hard because he was fine, not interested in talking when we called, again. It was harder for us than for him, I suspect.
I travel frequently for work. I have a two year old and 10 month old, as everyone has said it’s harder for you than it is on them. When I call home they sound happy, and most times barely want to chat for more than a minute. They get clingy for a day or two when I get back. With the older one I explain where I’m going and show her on a map…she gets it nowadays. No long drawn out goodbyes, definitely no airport, bring something small back. And remember that Daddy is also a capable parent 🙂
Thanks guys,
Im sure THEY will be fine, lol, its me Im worried about 🙂
Glad that my mommy is right around the corner and I know that Paul is way more than capable!!!
:):):)
We’ve just been to the States, and had a couple of ideas to help the process (ours are 4 and 19 months)
Get whoever is looking after Aaron to sit with him and make a diary of what he does every day. Set it up before you go, so he can count down the days until you’re back – and then you also have a record of what he got up to while you were away – because they’re not as big as talking on the phone/skype as we are!
Get him a cuddly toy to look after until you come back.
Write him a few letters – even if it’s just to say that mommy loves you, that he can open every day and have whoever is looking after him read to him. Or you could do the same with a little present, or a sweet, every day from mommy, so that he knows that mommy really is thinking about him and loving him even though she’s not there…
K