Good nights can be hard when Dad is at work instead of at home. Toddlers aren't great at comprehending concepts like "work" or "see you in the morning."
How do you deal with little kids who fuss at bedtime because their police parent is gone to work?
In our house, we try to make everything routine. We read one book with our little girl, say her prayers with her - listing out Dad first, and give kisses to the half dozen stuffed animals that live on her bed. When I'm putting her to bed solo, I always tell her that her Mommy and Daddy love her and we'll both see her in the morning.
Sometimes that doesn't work.
On the nights when it's Fussvile instead of Sleeptown, we call Daddy on his cell phone. Sometimes he can't answer; those darn traffic stops refuse to mold themselves to my schedule. But even when he can't come to the phone, Cate can hear her dad's voice on his voicemail and can leave him a message to say "Hi, Daddy. Miss you. Love you."
And then she usually feels calm enough to sleep...and to look forward to seeing Dad in the morning.
What do you do when this happens?
My little guy is 7 now, and we don't have that problem. We have a different sort of problem. He knows when Dad is working nights, he gets to sleep with Mom! He actually looks forward to the night shift. I feel safer knowing he is right next to me.
ReplyDeleteMolly H.