WFMW - Handling Husband's Business Trips

So for those of you who don't know, Mr. Pear was on a business trip from Sunday to Tuesday night again this week, just like the one he had two weeks ago because it is apparently essential to visit the same plant twice with only a week and a half in between visits. And apparently we don't need our family time so go ahead and make him fly on Sunday, twice! After all, it's not like we are going to do anything on Sunday like go to church and have family time, it is not like we need time together as a family or anything...On, and don't get me started about the trip he is required to make the last week in April when he is gone from Wednesday to Sunday night, to return to work Monday morning. No, I am not bitter, what makes you say that????

The last trip was a disaster - Miss Pear was so out of sorts with time change and the confusion of my husband's bosses flights (the guy schedules this whole fiasco to leave Sunday, then calls 20 minutes before the shuttle is to arrive because his flight might be canceled - unfortunately it was not). It was a LONG trip, all three of us were a mess by the time it came to an end Tuesday night when Mr. Pear returned home - his luggage arrived the next day (I think it was waiting for the chaos to pass before returning...).

So we are discovering that business trips are going to be a bone of contention for a while, and especially hard when Mr. Pear commutes 80 miles each way for work making family time especially valuable and protected. (Yes, we are trying to move - would you like to buy a beautiful town home in Southern California?)

We knew we needed to do something different, so here is what we have found works well for us, keeping in mind we have one daughter, Miss Pear who is 22 months and a complete Daddy's girl.

1. The day before the trip explain clearly what is going to happen. Talk about it openly and thoroughly.

2. Day of the trip - Let Miss Pear help Mr. Pear pack, examine passport, steal socks, play with suitcase, whatever makes her happy, let her help.

3. Continue to explain clearly what is happening.

4. Mr. Pear left while Miss Pear was napping, so before she napped they laid on the floor together and talked about what was happening using key phrases like "I will be back after three naps and two sleeps" and "I will be coming home..." and "Be sure to help Mom-mom lots and give her lots of hugs and kisses."

5. When Miss Pear woke up, I reminded her that Daddy had left for his trip, and that because she had napped it was now only 2 naps and 2 sleeps...We continued to count this down.

6. Fun project - we had a fun project to learn - stamping! Miss Pear loves it - more about that in another post.

7. Distractions! Run errands - Monday morning we went out and ran errands - distraction and gets out energy.

8. Keep meals and housework easy - Miss Pear needs more attention when Mr. Pear travels - she likes it when we are both here, and so do I. Did I mention we ordered pizza Tuesday night after we found out Mr. Pears flight was delayed for two hours?

9. Do not plan anything big or energy consuming during this time.

10. Plan play dates - we usually do not have the car during the week, so we take advantage to go to friends houses.

11. Try to show some restraint when Mr. Pear returns home - Miss Pear likes the jumping up and down and clapping her hands while squealing with delight routine, I just grin like a happy fool...and then dance with Miss Pear!...Mr. Pear laughs at his girls and then joins in.

This works very well, and a smooth home life during travel makes me think slightly less evil thoughts about my husbands boss, and lets me enjoy both my time with my daughter and calls and emails with my husband. We are all so much happier.

Sooooooooooooooo happy (to quote both Roman Holiday, and Mrs. Dryer's Miss Corrie)

Works for me! Head on over to Mrs. Dryer's for other great tips!