Husband working nights?

[Anonymous]

My husband will be switching to nights soon. I’m wondering how to help my children (and myself) adjust to him being away. They won’t see him all week; he will still be gone when they get up, and gone again by the time we get home from school. They are used to him being there for homework, dinner, time in the evening. Any tips on sliding into a new routine? Or even some good routines? Any tips on making it a little more stress-free for me?

[Anonymous]

Family time is so very important, as you clearly know. When will he see them? I'd suggest sitting down together to talk with them about the change in schedule, when you will all be together, whether he can speak to them or FaceTime from work at all. Then focus on the positives and how the changes will work--how it's so the family can eat and have a house/apt to be safe. Praying you can make a smooth transition and that the new job works well.

[Anonymous]

sounds like he is avoiding is child care responsibilities. He is disengaging. Call him out on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Family time is so very important, as you clearly know. When will he see them? I'd suggest sitting down together to talk with them about the change in schedule, when you will all be together, whether he can speak to them or FaceTime from work at all. Then focus on the positives and how the changes will work--how it's so the family can eat and have a house/apt to be safe. Praying you can make a smooth transition and that the new job works well.

Thanks. It’s a temporary rotation, but long enough to make an impact on the kids. I had t thought about FaceTime, that’s a great idea. He will see them on the weekends, but just not at all during the week.

[Anonymous]

If you know any law enforcement families, I would suggest talking to them. Before he retired, my husband was straight days as a Domestic Violence officer, but many of the women on my Facebook groups have had to deal with this for years. It's part of their lives.

[Anonymous]

Can he FaceTime them? My friend's husband is a cop and he used to get extra money working nights by being a police presence in parking lots. He was just sitting in his car watching movies through the night so it wasn't a big deal for him to spend an hour on the phone with his daughter.