Parent away
Travel, deployment, work separation
Business trips. Deployments. The parent who lives somewhere else. When a parent is away, kids feel the absence in ways they often can't articulate - and the parent at home carries extra weight.
What to Know
When a parent is away — for business, deployment, or because they live elsewhere — kids feel the absence in ways they often can't articulate. The parent at home carries extra weight, and routines get disrupted. Even kids who seem to handle it well may be struggling underneath.
The challenge of parent absence depends on the child's age, the length and frequency of separation, how it's handled, and the child's temperament. Some kids adapt easily; others have big feelings every time. Both responses are valid.
What helps: maintaining connection through calls, videos, or messages; keeping routines as consistent as possible; acknowledging the hard feelings; having transition rituals for departures and returns; and giving kids something tangible (a photo, a note) to hold onto while the parent is gone.
Signs to Watch
- •Increased clinginess with the present parent
- •Acting out before, during, or after the parent's absence
- •Regression in behavior or skills
- •Anxiety about the absent parent's safety
- •Anger at the parent for leaving
- •Difficulty reconnecting when the parent returns
Stories
Articles
Activities & Worksheets
Activities coming soon
Downloadable activities and worksheets for this topic.