Coming up this week, my DD1 (3.5) will be going away for 6 very long days with her dad to a family wedding on the other side of the country. It has been in the making for 6months+ but it didn't really hit me until recently. It will be the longest we have ever been apart and a 5-6hr plane ride away so I can't just wisk over to get her if necessary, not that I think it will be but not having an easy option is terrifying.

She went to the coast with my parents for 3 nights when DD2 was little and didn't bat an eyelid but I felt a bit more comfortable with that because it was only an hour or so by car if things went wrong (plus it was nice for all of us as DD1 got some special attention and I got some much needed rest after just moving house with a one week old bub + toddler). She is quite confident and independent and very secure with others. She is super excited, we have been talking about it a lot the past month to prepare her for it. We have skype with webcams, I'll be calling everyday. I think she will miss her sister more than her mum but I'm feeling a little out of sorts. He is a good (enough lol) dad but can be a little clueless and isn't as intuitive as we are especially with her speech so delayed but his mum and dad will be there (staying with them) and his brothers and I know she will have a great time. She's a great kid, follows instructions well, listens and helps...

I'm putting together her bag, clothes for every occasion. Her favourite toys, some books. I want to write a few tips and tricks and things to make it smoother but not sure what to include... so far I have stuff about fail safe food she will always be keen on (baby corn, red capsicum, broccoli and rice noodles) in case she gets a bit fussy (she is a really decent eater thankfully but I'm a stress pot)... ways we get her to sleep when she is overtired, songs she likes... just common stuff she might ask for so when he is stumped by what she is saying he can go through some of the options we list? I don't know! He never bothered to learn her signs so I'm freaking out. I'm going to make sure I reiterate the sign for toilet, food, drink etc before they go lol. My dad once got caught out when DD1 was signing for toilet and they were alone together at the shopping centre, he had no idea what she was on about, poor things. I guess it is a good thing she weaned a few months back because that is one less thing we have to worry about, sigh. What else should I include?

Tell me it will be okay! Any advice? Tips? Part of me thinks it is too soon, the other part knows she will love it and the decision is out of my hands, this is what was agreed upon (every Sat night + one week a year) in our parenting plan and it is for a wedding that she is in (her dad's brother is getting married)... I suppose the first time was always going to be hard and I would never really be ready. I remember how hard the first time she went for an overnight with her dad and how much I cried driving away, it is still hard but I don't cry anymore haha.

Ahhh my little bit big girl...