What do you do when the kids are having a breakdown for daddy ?

[coleman8]

Tonight and lastnight have truely been tough because they don't understand why they can't call or why daddy doesn't call that often. This is espically true for our oldest daughter. He is her step-dad but she doesn't treat him like that. She is so upset because she wants her daddy . My kids haven't seen him in1-1/2 years. Luckily we only have 6 months left but nights like this make it feel like an eternity. How do you ladies handle this? I hate seeing the kids like this and I don't know what to tell them.

[KatieM.]

For us, it might be a little different because we are blessed to be able to visit with Daddy a few times per month. So, when our son really gets to missing him we talk about the next time we are going to visit, we make a countdown calendar and then we spend some time drawing him a picture to send to Daddy. That usually does the trick for us.

[mrsharper17]

well it depends on the kids age. My 4 yr old has had a couple of moments where he wanted his daddy. He knows daddy is in jail (big boy time out) so i just tell him that when the COs feel he has been good for long enough they will let him out. He really has no concept of time so i cant just say daddy has xx time left. Kids are resiliant. Just show them love and talk to them when they have moments. Dont give them the run around or lie to them. If you are honest and show how you want him home just as much they will feel better

[Cherowa]

J is also not my children's biological father, but they consider him their daddy, even though they talk to and visit their real Dad. They miss him so much. My kids are 4, 6 and 11. They each handle it differently and have meltdowns over different things. We visit every weekend and that helps. When they're upset, I remind them that he misses them just as much as they miss him. I help them write him a letter or draw hima picture. Sometimes, we reread a letter he wrote. We always get pictures taken at visits, so when they're upset at night, they sleep with his pic and this helps. It helps me too.

[liz25]

when my daughters have a breakdown and ask for daddy i just hug them real tight and make them feel like everything is ok that hell walk in that door pretty soon but i admit my eyes tear up as well just dont let them see me i dont want them to see me sad wouldnt want to make them feel more down