Hubby worked in California Monday through Thursday as a consultant when we first started dating. (What a commute!) He continued traveling for work throughout our engagement. Two weeks before we got married he accepted a job offer that allowed him to be home most of the time.
Though he is home more than he is away, having a traveling man is nothing new to me. I thought I'd share a few tips to help you get through, especially if you have small children.
1. Skype! Invest in a camera for your computer or purchase a computer with a built in camera. It helps the children when they can see their daddy's face (and it helps the wife).
(little man skyping with daddy)
2. Stay busy. Do some house projects you've been putting off, create a play date, or invite some friends over for dinner. It helps the time pass by so much quicker if you're busy.
3. Girls night! If you can have a babysitter come over, this would be the perfect time to have a girls night out. If you can't hire a babysitter, have a girls night in after the kids go down. Play some games or watch some chick flicks. Steel Magnolias anyone?
4. Create a "how many more sleeps" calendar. Every morning when the kids wake up cross off last night's sleep and see how many more you have left until daddy comes home!
5. Have your kids make handmade cards and hide them in your husband's suitcase for him to find when he unpacks. Sneak a card in there from you too! ;)
6. What are good friends for? Ask a good friend to call and check on you while he's away and do the same for a friend.
7. We have been using this site for years and what a God send. Especially when I was home with an infant while hubby was away. Flightaware.com is a great website to track where your husband's plane is. I'm sure older kids would love this site!
(watching hubby's plane fly into Chicago from Japan)
Any other great ideas you would add to this list?
Thank you so much!
ReplyDeletesmooches,
Larie
Thanks for sharing this! I have several students whose parents travel a lot. I will be sure to pass these tips along! :)
ReplyDeleteFaith
such a great post!
ReplyDeleteI hate it when the hubby travels, but these are great tips! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI started blogging to pass the time - now it's just normal.
ReplyDeleteLove all the ideas to keep yourself sane and busy while hubby is away. My hubby used to travel alot when we moved to OR and I got to the point of being ok just going places with the 2 kids w/o him. We homeschooled so there were some issues with math homework but we made do til he got back. He called me every night which was nice and I think it's important to not talk about something that would make you have a disagreement over the phone. If he had to leave on short notice I tried not to show disappointment...here we go again! Take care~hugs!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to tell you.....
ReplyDeleteThank You for this post and Thank You for keeping it positive!
My husband works in Afghanistan and is home maybe every 6 mths. We video talk every Saturday and Sunday. We talk on the phone every morning and every evening. Although our marriage is absolutely fine.....our kids are fine....our life is just fine. We deal with what we have to deal with and all is good but I always seem to have people ask me (with THAT face) 'How do you do it?'
So, it's nice to see a positive take on traveling husbands! ;0)