Reconnecting with toddler after overtime/business trip?

[curiouscanadian]

The amount of overtime I've had to work in the last week has been insane!

DH has brought DS to see me at dinner time a couple of days during the week - otherwise I wouldn't have seen him at all - and I won't have seen him at all this weekend. Luckily it's all over one way or another as of tomorrow, but in many ways it would probably have been easier on DS if I were gone completely somewhere on a business trip, rather than the "teaser" visits he's had with me.

I'm feeling terribly guilty of course and totally expect a clingy toddler for the next week or two but is there anything in particular I can do to help DS recover from having me gone so much lately? I'm traumatized by the separation, so can only imagine how insecure he feels!

(Needless to say I am NOT feeling very good about working at the moment.)

[madskye]

Are you working on a project and when it's done could you take a day or two off? I think the nicest way to reconnect is just to relax together, sleep late, take a tub together, nap together, eat together and just refill both of your cups.

[almadianna]

When I am in these situations I take advantage of the weekend to sleep in late and hold them all morning. I babywearing a lot more and try to really do nothing else but spend time with THEM. Kisses, Hugs... anything that involves touching them. Reading to them while on your lap... the stuff you would normally do except on steroids.

[flutist]

I've had business trips and long hours at work at many points in my work life since having children, and my DD has been pretty resilient. We make sure that on that Saturday, or whatever the first day off is, that we make a big breakfast together (she likes to help cook), and talk about the week. Time just focused on the two of us has been the key.

I have also found in recent times that Skyping while I was away really helped her to stay connected.

In our case, I'm always more stressed about it than I needed to be - she's always fine, has had special bonding time with daddy, and "gets over it" as if nothing ever happened.

Good luck!