My husband is out of town until Friday with a sick parent. My daughter is not taking having daddy gone very well, so I've decided she and I should work on a surprise for him over the next few days- We're going to get up early Friday and fix him his favorite supper and make a "Welcome Home Daddy" banner for the living room. Any other ideas on what we can do together to pass time?
2006-08-29 09:03:57 · 18 answers · asked by Jennifer F 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
She can write (with your help) and illustrate a story about what she did while Daddy was gone or about how she and you put the party together for him.
Then that night she can present him with a present and it's a good way to teach her how to express herself creatively and that when Daddy is away she gets to do a lot.
2006-08-29 09:08:54 · answer #1 · answered by zombie_togo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can finger paint a family portrait, or bake a cake together. Here's another idea, give her the idea of doing other non-daddy related things and then making a book about the things you did while he was gone, in the end add a page saying how much you missed and are happy he's back. That way you and ur daughter can have some quality time and she can be at ease by knowing she's going to make a book on it, that'll make her want to do more things so she can add more to the book. Have fun!
2006-08-29 16:14:40 · answer #2 · answered by Surfin'_the_Tide 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's good to do things that will focus on her and not him while he is away. It's fine to talk about him and how much you're looking forward to his return but you don't want it to be the focus of her life.
Try doing things with her that will take her mind somewhere else... take her to the movies... don't know her age, but maybe play Barbies with her... make popcorn and watch a rental... go to the park, zoo, playground, shop for Back To School, teach her to latch hook a rug or do other age-appropriate craft items. Bring her into the kitchen and cook together every day... mixing and pouring and stirring and mashing things is therapeutic no matter what your age.
Put on music and dance together... tell her stories about when she was a baby... or when you were a little girl just like her... and talk about HER stuff more than him right now.
Anxiety is a funny thing. Missing a parent is normal, but if you allow children to focus on it too much, it can become an obsession and every time Daddy leaves it will be an automatic meltdown.
Play Twister... go to a pottery place where you paint things and they fire them for you... go skating... play Putt putt... go bowling... dress up in fancy clothes and have a Mother Daughter Tea... hook up with friends and their daughters for a playdate. Get a big jigsaw puzzle, go to a museum, visit an old friend, make popsicles, bake bread, get ready made pizza crusts and stuff to make your own pizzas. Just keep her little mind busy and doing other things...
2006-08-29 16:17:20 · answer #3 · answered by thegirlwholovedbrains 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can make daddy a t-shirt to show him how much he was missed. then, next time he goes away he can take the shirt with him to remind him how much you both are missing him.....oh, your daughter could make one too, so she has one to wear next time daddy has to go away!
ummmm, bake him a cake or make cupcakes (more kid-friendly).
i'll "edit" if i can think of anything else.
oh, another idea to expand on your banner....my husband is a Marine and i know lots of families decorate sheets for their parent's homecoming from deployment. then, they hang the sheet on the front of the house. some people may find this tacky if you live in a "certain kind" of neighborhood, but i find it really sweet when i see a big decorated sheet outside someone's home...it means dad's on his way home...safe and sound:)
plus, it'll give you a chance to decorate it outside and get some sunshine!. break out paints, glitter, glue...the works!!!
2006-08-29 16:08:33 · answer #4 · answered by joey322 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tie colorful ribbons around the trees in your yard as well! Make a banner for the outside too and blow up balloons. Have her draw a very special picture just for him. And be sure to bake a cake together! NEVER NEVER forget to take the time to find something like a hot candle lite bubble bath for 2 with champagne so YOU can welcome him home too in YOUR way!
2006-08-29 17:06:10 · answer #5 · answered by cstinkerbell6969 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have any videos of your family with Daddy in them that she can watch? Even your wedding videos might be fun for her!
Have her draw pictures of what she wants to do with Dad when he gets home or of what she imagines he is doing right now.
Get out of the house. Take her to the Children's Museum, the zoo, the park, library, etc. Maybe she won't miss him so much if you are out of the house.
2006-08-29 16:15:56 · answer #6 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What a great idea!!
You could take construction paper and make signs like "4 days until daddy gets home" in big letters and tear them off everyday...
2006-08-29 16:08:15 · answer #7 · answered by chili_eaters 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make a craft together for him. Like paint a wooden picture frame and fill it with a picture of dad and daughter. You can also create a dad & me scrapbook, that should pass the time.
2006-08-29 16:07:20 · answer #8 · answered by Yahoo! Answers Chic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps you could go through a photo album with her when daddy was a little and tell her stories. Or have her draw a picture for him.
2006-08-29 16:07:22 · answer #9 · answered by Penelope's Mom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
along with the supper, bake him his favorite cake. you could make it homemade, which will give you and your daughter more time to spend together. you could go shopping and get him a few things, like a shirt, or whatever he likes, and buy something for yourselves too. good luck :)
2006-08-29 16:07:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋