goodbyes and hellos? tips?

Sandy - posted on 09/17/2012

My kids are a little older, but they write their dad emails when he is on the rig. Their dad writes back to them so they end up talking at least once a day by email if not more. It helps a great deal.

Logan - posted on 03/24/2012

My 2 year old daughter is a major daddys girl, the first couple of hitches were really hard on her regardless what time daddy left. I try to get her to talk to him on the phone or over skype as much as possible and explain to her that daddy is at work for a little bit, and he does that so mommy can stay home with her and we can have a wonderful life. and now its almost like i routine that he comes home every 2 weeks for a few days and then he is working. but when he is home she will not leave his side. My husband also leave way before she gets up because he has to drive 4 hours to get to location. Maybe try to take him to parks and stuff to get his mind off daddy being gone, or do a activities to make the time go by faster for him. It is hard for a little bit but eventually it does get better. Its a rough life we lead by having Oilfield husbands. i hope that helps, a little. It helps me to know that there are other people going through the same challenges as I am with this lifestyle.

User - posted on 03/20/2012

thank you all for the bit of help. I know there is not much we can do about it. Lately my husband has been wanting to leave during his nap times and sleep times so he doesn't have to go through the goodbyes. Which makes it rough on me because then my son is constantly looking for him. I have to tell my husband though that he is doing fine and not missing him so he can be 100% out on the rig. I might try Skype / FaceTime and see if that helps my son realize daddy is at work :/ perhaps that will help

Tiffany - posted on 03/07/2012

My SO has been working the rigs for as long as we have been together..We share 3 children aged 8,6 and 3.. So I know to well the whole missing scenerio my son himself just always seemed to understand that his daddy would go and come back but he was a very laid back kid and still is even after 8 yrs... When he would leave it was always daddy has to go to work he would tuck them in the night before and talk to them let them know how long he will be gone for and I really dont knwo what else he talks to them about I leave him be to do it all I know is that they dont get fully upset about it obviously they miss him and the older they have gotten the more they understood that this is what dad does to earn his money I think it would be good for dads to have contact while they are away Ive been trying to push it on my SO but unfortunately hes not a phone or computer person and is just tired after work so he doesnt talk to them as much as I think he should I was trying to push it for if not everyday at least every other day or even on the weekends obviously sometimes things make it so they cant but for the kids I really wish he would just take that time to even call for a quick hi.. As for missing their dad I dont think it gets easier at all I know for me alone I still miss him way too much so Im sure it may be alittle more so for the kids they just I guess learn to deal with or make sense of it Im not sure... As long as we have SO's in the oilfield were stuck with this feeling of want, missing and waiting... I probably was no help to your question sorry.lol.. I got carried away.. All the best to you and yours!

Alissa - posted on 02/28/2012

I am no help sorry Laura. My SO just left yesterday for his 1st ever rig job and is gone for 3weeks. Our 4year old daughter is a daddy's girl and I worry about how she will deal with having all her daddy's attention for 2weeks and then him just get in his car and hes gone for half a month or more again. I feel for you and hope you can get some good answers!