Coping when your partner is away

As the high pitched wail went up yet again from her toddler son Leon’s room, Sandy turned over wearily in bed. The other side was empty. Her husband Tim had flown out for work the day before on his three week on, one week off fly in, fly out (FIFO) job on the mines in Western Australia. As usual, Leon was making his displeasure with the upheaval clear.

What Sandy and Tim hadn’t anticipated when Tim accepted the job on the mines was the adverse effect on their youngest son’s behaviour. Almost overnight he descended into an irritable toddler by day and a tyrant at night. His sleeping patterns, previously excellent, became disrupted. Sandy, who was struggling to cope with her husband’s absence herself, became frustrated and resentful about the strain her husband’s lengthy absences were placing on their family. In addition, their two school age children also became stressed and anxious about the dramatic change in domestic arrangements.

But Sandy isn’t the only mum dealing with difficulties such as these. As areas around Australia boom there are increasing numbers of families affected by fly in/fly out arrangements. Similarly, families where either one or both parents are employed by the defence forces are faced with similar issues.

For Sandy and Tim , the financial benefits of the FIFO job needed to be carefully balanced against their needs as a family. They were forced to take a close look at their family dynamics and work together to minimise the disruption to their children’s lives whilst ensuring they both felt supported to continue the FIFO arrangement. Putting in place a defined range of coping strategies has helped the whole family to adjust to Tim’s working arrangements.

Strategies for coping:

• It’s vital to ensure that a routine is put in place for the children and that this remains stable during the absence and return of the parent. Bedtimes should remain consistent as should meal times.

• Parents need to mutually agree on discipline strategies and keep these consistent when the partner is absent and present. Children are very quick to pick up on differing cues about what is “acceptable behaviour” and will take advantage if they are given the chance. Avoid making this a source of conflict in the relationship.

• It’s important to keep anxiety levels for all family members to a minimum. A simple and practical example of this is to make sure school uniforms and lunches are organised the night before school. Toddlers and younger children cannot articulate their worries about the absent parent, so make bath time and bed time as calm as possible. Try to read them a bedtime story and sing songs with them in order to soothe and calm them. A night-light is often a useful addition to their bedroom if their sleep patterns become disruptive. Its presence often reassures them and they will self settle.

• Ensure the absent parent has regular contact with the children; Skype, emails and even text messaging are a great way to keep in contact. They can be involved in homework time through emails being sent with relevant questions for them to answer. For toddlers, a photo book with pictures of them doing various activities with that parent is a wonderful way to remind them of positive times with that parent. It also helps maintain an important bond between adult and child in a simple, visual way.

• For the partner of the absent parent, a support network is vital. This is often easier said than done. However, there are many online communities for mums who find it hard to get out and about to playgroups. In addition there are help lines (see below) you can call. Whilst well meaning people will say, “Take some time out for yourself” this can be hard to achieve. Useful ways to look for support can be through placing adverts at your local shops or at nearby university campus for a babysitter. Having someone else play with or entertain your children can give parents much needed extra time. It will also provide you with some valuable and much needed respite.

• It’s important to remember the absent partner isn’t necessarily having much fun either. They work long hours and usually endure loneliness, isolation, the tedium of camp life and enforced separation from their family too.

• It’s vital both partners have some space and “landing” time when the absent parent returns. Make sure you both enjoy your time together and make space for the other person to have some alone time as well. Often there will be resentment felt on both sides. It’s important to acknowledge it and move past it.

• It good for there to be some time where the whole family shares an activity together. It may be as simple as a picnic or a movie night in the lounge room. This gives everyone a uniting point that they can talk about when someone is away. The absent parent can be remembered as sharing a positive experience with the family, which helps maintain a good bond for everyone.

For Sandy and Tim, working together ensured that each felt supported by their partner. It also helped their children. The new routines meant their school-aged children felt calmer and better able to face the school day. Leon developed a bedtime routine of kissing daddy’s photo book each night and his sleeping patterns improved considerably. Sandy made sure she took some much needed time out and vented her frustrations at kickboxing lessons at her local gym. For Tim, the all too brief trips home became something he could look forward to and enjoy with his family. Whilst the fly in fly out arrangement wasn’t ideal, the whole family adjusted well to their new arrangement by making small, yet manageable changes.

Useful links

Relationships Australia
Offer a range of family and support courses, including courses that explore the challenges surrounding families where Dad works away.
t: 1300 364 277
www.relationships.com.au

Centrecare
Quality professional counselling, support, mediation and training services.
www.centrecare.com.au

Kinway
Provides quality counselling and relationship education programs and a telephone counselling service. t: 1800 812 511 (Telephone Counselling Service)
www.kinway.org.au

beyondblue: the national depression initiative
Provides information and support to people living with depression
www.beyondblue.org.au

Post Natal Depression Support Association
Provides support, understanding and information to women, partners and families affected by pregnancy and childbirth related stress and depression.
www.pndsa.com

Red Cross
Provides practical support for women who suffer from post natal depression.
www.redcross.org.au

See our parenting article for single parents for more advice.