Leaving Home To Go To Work: A Constant Dilemma

[tutsiwarrior]

so here we are and tutsi is preparing to travel to work on a 2 year assignment to return for a short visit 3 months later as per usual...and the kids are useta having uncle tutsi around as I spoil them and take an interest in their activities unlike the thai adults that ignore them and yell at them to get on with themselves...

the little niece useta scream the house down when I would leave ('but I haveta go, my darling as if I don't work then we have no money and then we can't buy rice and then we can't eat...'...'I don't give a <deleted> ye lyin' bastid; yew said that yew were never gonna leave me...') and then I would haveta steal away to BKK in the middle of the night when she was asleep...

now the 15 y.o. niece is getting involved imperiously with: 'and you leaving tomorrow, are you? uncle tutsi?...' and I say yeah and then she folds her arms and her eyes narrow with hatred: 'yew bastid...'...

there are many folks on the forum in similar circumstances that work abroad and have to leave periodically with the kids angry and disappointed and I handed out a few 100 baht as a palliative...

how do yew handle it?

[draggons]

Hi tutsi. Ive always worked away, long trips and short, and had to put up with the tantrums and the "you bastid" looks every time I had to leave.

Unfortunatly my ex and I ended up divorcing and I ended up in the Far East permenantly nearly 10 years ago, seeing even less of my girls.

It's always hard having to leave to go to work.

Upside is spending more time with them when you get home

I've got my 16year old moving out to live with me and Mrs Dragon later this month and I still have to work away, some things never change!, but looking forward to having her here with us

[jonnyscot]

Aye, the wife takes the kids with us to the airport when my time comes, it doesn't make it any easier when they're bawling bucketloads o tears and clinging to my leg as I'm trying to enter passport control, luckily I'm only on 5 week rotations,, tried offering them money to buy something as a sweetener but not interested, although the daughter has thoughtfully suggested mum go instead of me on a few occasions,,

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[brit1984]

As I am a house husband, my baby daughter can be a bit clingy towards me. Sometimes, she even disturbs me while I am doing a poo.

Admittedly, I do like to take my time on the toilet (and check TV on my phone to see if there are any interesting new topics to reply to).

If she is knocking on the toilet door I often have to halt my natural bodily functions (and cancel my half written post). Luckily now she is asleep...

Sent from iPhone; please forgive any typos or violations of forum rules

[PattayaParent]

I only do married staus contracts and have been lucky in the last 10 years. Before I was go anywhere do anything much like you.

I know from your previous locations married status would not be possible and I've turned down similar positions because of remoteness but I'm up for a good job in a good location where I might have to spend a couple of weeks away now and then and that might strain things a bit.

If your a contractor it's much easier being single. Look for permanent opportunities here in Thailand or contract work locally where you can maybe work 6 months a year?.

Edited July 15, 2012 by PattayaParent

[tutsiwarrior]

this time when I left it was the 3 y.o. grandson that was affected, when he got home from school and discovered I had left it was: 'where's tutsi?, where's tutsi!!!...' then an uncle said: 'he's at my house...' and then he subsequently found that that was a lie and then screamed the 3 y.o. equivalent of 'lyin' bastid!!!' according to the wife...he'll get over it but I hate causing distress as we are supposed to protect the kids and not cause grief...

meself, I saw a photo on the news of a pretty burmese woman greeting a dignitary with a bouquet of flowers and got emotional with home sickness...