Away From Daddy for 3 Weeks

I'm taking my one-year olds home (about 10 hours away) for almost 3 weeks at the end of this month. It is a rare chance for us to spend some quality time with my family, we are always around my husband's family (they live in the same state as us) and my own parents and siblings and grandparents are ecstatic about getting to spend so many days with Jonah & Dalia. The real reason we decided to go was that DH is taking his licensure board exam at the beginning of August, so we're giving him a few weeks with a quiet house and no guilt about how much he isn't able to help because he is studying 24/7. He really needs to pass, and he hasn't been able to study much at all this past year, for obvious reasons!

Now that we're about to leave (this coming Sunday), I am starting to panic about taking the babies away from their daddy for so long. They are so close to him, especially Jonah, who clings to him with such proud posession and cries when he leaves the room! Will this relationship endure the almost 3 weeks we'll be gone? Or will it reset itself? Will they remember him? We're going to try to skype with the webcam, but I'm not sure how much he'll be able to do that. I know so many people are separated because of jobs and don't have a choice...but in this case we can choose - Is this horribly unfair to him and to the kids? Does anyone know about the memory of one year-olds for parents? Any tips? Thanks!

 

We spent just over 2 weeks at my parents' and my in-laws' house when my oldest son was 13 months old without my DH because he was teaching - and when we came home, our DS remembered him just fine and the relationship between them picked up right where it left off!

Enjoy your extended visit with your family!! :hug:

 

My two have a great relationship with their Grammy, who lives a few hours away. Even if they haven't seen her for a couple of weeks, they remember who she is when she arrives. My little guy is super shy with people other than my DH and I, and will act shy/cry when someone new arrives. He is never like this with her, as he is familiar enough with her he remembers her.

 

I think they will remember him. I think using skype is a good idea and maybe on days you can't skype, have them "talk" to him on the phone. Take a picture of them with their Daddy with you on your trip and remind them that Daddy wants to be with us but he is studying for a big test and that he loves them.
Enjoy your trip and best of luck to your DH on his licensure exam!

 

They'll do great. Taking a picture of your DH (or several) is a great idea. Skype is hard with one year olds, but they'll probably love the picture (at least my kids did when we travelled at that age).

 

Only 3 weeks...no worries. My dh is in Afghanistan and is about to come home - I have "daddy dolls" with voice recorders inside w/ a recorded message, we look at his photo almost daily, I talk to them about whatever and always include "Daddy" in the conversation. I feel confident enough after months upon months of him being gone just due to them having teh dolls w/ his voice, then hearing him on the phone the few times he's been able to call they have at least heard his voice, that when they see him again everything will be fine. Just seeing their facial expression when he has been on the phone...I don't know its like they knew exactly who it was. When I put their grandparents (any of the 3 sets) I do not get nearly the reaction as I did when dh called. I'm sure there will be some adjustment but as far as being a stranger not at all!! So, for only 3 weeks I wouldn't worry about it at all. You guys should try and enjoy your trip and good luck to your husband and his exams!

 

i think it sounds like a great solution all around! i wouldn't worry about it. i agree with PPs about taking pictures - if you want to get really crafty, you could make up a story to go with the pictures & tuck them into a 4x6 album to "read" to them every night (ex this is daddy, daddy had to stay home, see - daddy is studying for his exam, yay! daddy passed his exam, etc).

 

Since DH has been deployed since the girls were 5 weeks, my mom stepped in as the "dad" figure. We were recently gone for a little over 3 weeks and they immediately went to her when we saw her again. They remember