I get it, OP. I’m also a SAHM with a traveling husband. This is what I do:

-Family breakfast and leisurely morning together.
-Before lunch, I leave for a long bike ride, or some other activity alone.
-Return just before dinner, which will be takeout that DH has figured out.
-After dinner we go for ice cream. Kids in bed early.
-Netflix and chill with DH. Maybe we have a couple drinks. Sometimes dinner above was just for the kids and we do adult fare while we watch a movie and relax together.

Go!

The dad needs some alone time with the kids too. Taking a morning or afternoon appointment is the perfect amount of time so you get a break and he can bond as a father. Family tune is great, but each of you also need time to parent alone and bond.

Go!

Oh self care is needed here!! When my kids were young-even with a fantastic nanny-I just needed some mental time off when my DH did this kind of travel. Granted, he was pretty burnt out from his schedule so I might let him sleep in a bit before I disappeared but GO, get out, recharge.

Anonymous wrote:Lots of times the spa gift card really is just a dollar amount and not necessarily a half day-meaning you can just book a massage or facial and save the rest for another time. I would say split it up and see if you can trade off with another mom another day (or two) while he’s gone. Then you don’t even have to deal with the issue of whether to dump the kids on him on his one day at home between long trips and any marital fallout there.

Please. Everyone knows work travel is a vacation from the kids. If he is a good father he will want to take care of them.

Lots of times the spa gift card really is just a dollar amount and not necessarily a half day-meaning you can just book a massage or facial and save the rest for another time. I would say split it up and see if you can trade off with another mom another day (or two) while he’s gone. Then you don’t even have to deal with the issue of whether to dump the kids on him on his one day at home between long trips and any marital fallout there.

Have breakfast as a family, then you have a spa afternoon. Or have dad take the kids out to breakfast so you can sleep in, have lunch and playgroup time together (or go to an event or whatever), then you have spa time in the afternoon.

I would split the day. Spend a few hours by myself, then spend the rest of the time with the family.

Stay at home mom with a 4 year old and 2.5 year old.

My husband is away this week, and he’s traveling next week too. Sunday is a full day in between where he’s home.

Part of me wants to escape: use my massage gift card and spend a 1/2 day at the spa. Get away. Relax. Regroup before another week of him being away.

But I also want to spend time with him and the kids, as a family, before he leaves for 4 days again. I know he wants to spend time with me, too.

WYYD?