My DD is not coping with DH being away

[Lexie and Zekes Mum]

DH started a FIFO job and DD has not been coping well. She is very clingy, emotional and playing up a lot.

I don't know how to make this transition any easier for her, she speaks to DH daily on the phone and she knows he will be coming home. He only does 7 days on, 7 days off so it's not like he is gone for weeks at a time.

Any advice would be great, thank you.

Court

[Laksa]

My second son gets quite upset about DH being away. It's odd for me as DS1 never did, and DH has always worked away so it's not a new thing.

Some things that help calm him are keeping a note from Daddy under his pillow and I also had a photo keyring made that he can put around his neck on an ID tag thingo.

How old is she? Does she understand a countdown of days? My DS2 is 3.

[TripleTime]

I hear you, in 12 months I haven't been able to make it any easier.

DH is gone for 3 days max & it's still bloody hard. Kids pick at each other & tell each other daddy's lost.

Only way I can make it easier on them is to tell them his at work talking to the man about a fan With the baby car & not let them talk to him.

[AM]

I've found time is the only thing really. It takes time for kids to get used to the new rhythm of when they see dad, my boys have taken probably 8 months to adjust properly... How old is your daughter? It certainly gets easier as they get older.

[blue74]

My DH has just started a FIFO job again & our 2.5yr old DD is also acting up & driving me crazy while he's away. I've started colouring in the days he's away on the calander & cross each day off with her till daddy comes home. I'm hoping in time she'll settle.

[MothersMilk]

It's hard, my DD1 has started to get upset with DH working away, now that she is older, but since he goes away for much longer periods than a week she adjusts and gets used to it after a week or 2. I think one week on, one week off would be quite confusing as he is constantly coming and going (i find longer stretches away are often easier on the kids strangely enough) - over time she will start to get used to the pattern and will hopefully settle.
You could do a countdown system - either with a calendar or you could fill a jar with 7 small lollies (or whatever you like) and each day you can give one to DD and when the jar is empty daddy will be home - it's a good visual for kids and a treat to look forward to every day.

:hugs::hugs:I understand how hard it is, i hope your DD settles soon.