DH has worked 2 on, 1 off and now does 1 on, 1 off (def best!! lol)

It is HARD. Don't be under any illusions here. It is hard. You are alone. Usually their hours are 12 hour shifts, night and day, so 6 to 6 or 7 to 7. Most likely will be one week days, next week nights, and a swing day in the middle. This means that they get up at 4-5am for day shifts, eat, shower, go to work. and then 4-5 pm for night shifts. Basically this equates to ZERO time for you, even on the phone. Basically I get maybe 20 mins a day - they are in bed by 8pm because they are knackered.

This makes it really hard for you to vent or get support through your tough days - they are so tired, and the work they do is SO physically demanding. It really does make it tough to complain and you are both as tired as each other... Honestly it really does mean you have to be the old school wife, put up and shut up and get on with it - the man works hard, etc etc...
Not to say you can't still get the support from your husband, but you need to be very careful - there is a fine line they walk having to be away for so long, missing their kids, and you, and feeling useless being away and not being able to support you - so fine line you need to tread about how much you let them know it is tough on you...

Wow, sounds horrible! lol
Like I said, it is not easy and take take a long time to fine the rhytmn that works for your family and your personal relationship.
When they are home, the first couple of days is sleep and rest and recouperation - they are SORE and TIRED and they don't get a day off while they are gone, so it is crucial you realise that taking travel in to consideration travel - they will often fly in LATE and fly out EARLY - so your week fast becomes 5.5 days, add on their rest time and your time with him is practically speaking, about 4 days of quality time.
BUT it awesome having a weekend everyday they are back, it really is fab...and you really do appreciate waking up with someone next to you

Everyone thinks the money is fantastic...but when you think about it, the money is what it is because they work 84 hour WEEKS and they are only working 2/3 of the year... And because the pay is huge each fortnight, the tax man takes about half Bastards! lol

As for you at home by yourself with the kids - it is HARD lol But you do find your grove, and I have found that DAYCARE is a goddsend - even just one day a week to give you time to catch your breath and have a day off - you will need it. It is really important you don't forget about yourself, it will creep up on you and then you will find yourself being very irritable, snappy or tired and it hits like a ton of bricks. So if the washing needs to go by the wayside for a day or so, so be it. If you let your headspace go, it will all crumble.


Wow, could I sound anymore dramatic??
Basically it is hard, but the rewards are worth it. So many people I know are "Oh, DH will just get a job FIFO on the mines and we will be rolling in it" - FAIL. It is tough, it is a TOTAL change in lifestyle and routine, for you and the kids. And it will change every swing when he comes back - all of a sudden there will be another adult around, and other parental, and the you may find the kids take a while to warm back up to him, they may get more clingy to you. It will also mean he is back and that will affect how you perform your days - there is now someone else there who needs your attention and you will be amazed at how quickly you get over the "oh he's not here, sob sob, never spent more than a few days apart since we were married" or whatever - you will quickly get used to NOT having sexy time () not having to shave your legs all the time or think about how someone else is feeling. It really is important you do what you can (BOTH of you) to keep your personal relationship alive, or it will very quickly become all work and no play for both of you.


It is tough - they LOVE the work - DH is an explosives expert - spends all days blowing things up and loves it lol, but they HATE being away from you and the kids, and it creates an interesting dynamic in the family and your relationship. If it is successful though, the money is ace, can do fabulous things for your family - but make sure you do a new budget or it will vanish as quickly as it came and you will wonder where it all went


Anyway, now I have scared the living crap out of you lol I hope it all goes well, I am sure he will love it.