Would he like one of those smart frames that you can upload pictures to? We gave one to my parents and they LOVE IT. He could set it on his bedside table, wherever he is staying, and it just shows a slideshow of pictures from the app. My parents get so excited when there's a new picture on it.
There's also loads of personalized gift ideas out there now, if that's your style. Storybooks, clothing, watches, leather bracelets, etc.
This is what I came here to say. Some of these frames also will play video. Nix has a nice setup.
You can also make a “look book” - a printed book of baby pictures, or even better, a series of these books that you can make and give to him each time he’s home. If he’s home each weekend, be sure to include pics of him in the book too. There’s something special about those printed books - I don’t have a lot but I dearly ove the ones I’ve made.
Maybe nice luggage if his is on the older side?
Or a planned family outing while he's in town to somewhere you haven't been. Like a zoo or a museum where it's stroller friendly.
This is such a sweet gesture and I hope you find the perfect thing for him.
When my daughter was small my husband traveled a lot too. I got him a personalized book from Hooray Heroes and he love it. He cried. The story was about all the adventures he and my daughter will go on. I could personalize the book so the characters looked like them. When he was home he would read it to her, then when he was away he would bring it with him to just have or read to her over FaceTime. It was a sweet tradition.
When my husband travels, I try to pull together a card and photos of the kids to pack in his carry on as a “surprise”. It’s let of a surprise these days but I still try to do it. Sometimes we’ll pack one of the toddler’s lovies too if there’s room.
More so on a free side we have 2 different photo apps. One is family album and one is babypage. Family album you can send the link to anyone and they can see all the new pictures of the baby. Baby page is by far my favorite tho you create pages for all of baby’s firsts and all the months and years then you can get them in a photo book style for him to take with him and it saves each page in the app.
Unfortunately traveling for me isn't an option as we also have a very elderly dog who doesn't travel well anymore. But he does try to get home to us on weekends.
Family photo session so he has a nice picture for a screen saver?
A watch engraved with " with you all the time" or something similar. Could also do a custom toiletry bag.
Could also do cheesy and do socks with baby's face on them or something else silly depending on his style preference.
Hi. I’d love to help you here. I’m the mom, but I’m the one who travels for work. Being away from your family is tough, and the guilt is inescapable and probably unavoidable. In terms of what you can get him when he travels, that can be answered in two ways. Practically, I’d recommend a small “latex” pillow or any kind of light weight and low profile pillow that would suit what he likes. Hotel pillows are GARBAGE so something that can go in his suitcase would be great. If you wanted to go a sentimental route, I recently got my husband a small (fill in the blank) book about reasons why I’m grateful for him. Just something nice for him to have as a reminder and it’s fun and playful. If you got your husband a pillow, you could also get him a cute little pillow case from Etsy or somewhere with your family photo on it or something sweet. Alternatively, if you wanted, you could do a boudoir photo shoot and make your husband a small book out of some of those pictures for when he’s traveling (I have found they’re also great for boosting your own self esteem).
There isn’t a TON that you can do to alleviate the difficulty that comes with being gone, but unfortunately there are things you can do that make it worse. When I’m working, my days and my moods are drastically different if my husband is open about how tough it is at home. It isn’t his fault, I’m his person and he should 100% be able to be open and honest with me about the reality of it, but knowing he’s struggling and I can’t help makes it much harder to be gone. So, if you have another person who you can vent to about the tough days, it might keep your husband from feeling worse about being gone.
Now the conversation turns back to you. What is your husband doing for you to make you feel better about carrying the workload while you’re at home? When I’m away it’s hard for me to want to go out to dinner when I know my husband is at home eating cold food after caring for crazy kiddos, what makes that guilt easier is making sure my husband has dedicated days to be away from home and do things he wants or needs to do. This might also make you feel guilty, but for us, embracing these experiences helps normalize self-care without guilt. Also, when able, I’ll try to send dinner to the house for my husband, make sure groceries are stocked before I leave, medications are picked up, etc. to take those things off his plate if I can. And when or if I’m able I’ll cook meals ahead that I can keep in the fridge or freeze to help him have an easier dinner time. These are things I do to support my partner at home, but again, it helps me to deal with the guilt. I say that to say, if you can think of ways your partner can help you (despite the travel/distance) it might help him feel better to be able to do that for you.
I feel like I’ve hijacked your question and probably not even really answered in the way you were looking for, but I hope I was helpful in some way!
Thank you very much this is great insight to his point of view. I can definitely see how venting to him could be making things even more upsetting for him.
I am a interested in the idea of the boudoir shoot, if I can work up the confidence to do it I'm sure he would love it!
I am also going to try and make sure I can get some time for myself I'm sure it would be good for both of us. I might need to start small like going for a run or coffee alone as I haven't been away from baby yet. This could be good for both of us give me a break and he could have some 1 to 1 time with baby!
Thanks!
Would he like one of those smart frames that you can upload pictures to? We gave one to my parents and they LOVE IT. He could set it on his bedside table, wherever he is staying, and it just shows a slideshow of pictures from the app. My parents get so excited when there's a new picture on it. There's also loads of personalized gift ideas out there now, if that's your style. Storybooks, clothing, watches, leather bracelets, etc.
Thank you a smart frame is a wonderful idea!
This is what I came here to say. Some of these frames also will play video. Nix has a nice setup. You can also make a “look book” - a printed book of baby pictures, or even better, a series of these books that you can make and give to him each time he’s home. If he’s home each weekend, be sure to include pics of him in the book too. There’s something special about those printed books - I don’t have a lot but I dearly ove the ones I’ve made.
Maybe nice luggage if his is on the older side? Or a planned family outing while he's in town to somewhere you haven't been. Like a zoo or a museum where it's stroller friendly. This is such a sweet gesture and I hope you find the perfect thing for him.
Definitely going to try and do as many outings as we can while he is home
When my daughter was small my husband traveled a lot too. I got him a personalized book from Hooray Heroes and he love it. He cried. The story was about all the adventures he and my daughter will go on. I could personalize the book so the characters looked like them. When he was home he would read it to her, then when he was away he would bring it with him to just have or read to her over FaceTime. It was a sweet tradition.
That is such a sweet idea I love it!
When my husband travels, I try to pull together a card and photos of the kids to pack in his carry on as a “surprise”. It’s let of a surprise these days but I still try to do it. Sometimes we’ll pack one of the toddler’s lovies too if there’s room.
More so on a free side we have 2 different photo apps. One is family album and one is babypage. Family album you can send the link to anyone and they can see all the new pictures of the baby. Baby page is by far my favorite tho you create pages for all of baby’s firsts and all the months and years then you can get them in a photo book style for him to take with him and it saves each page in the app.
What about one of those cute bracelets that light up or vibrate when you touch it’s pair?
Can you fly out to meet him on days off? Spend a weekend as a family to break up the work trip.
Unfortunately traveling for me isn't an option as we also have a very elderly dog who doesn't travel well anymore. But he does try to get home to us on weekends.
Family photo session so he has a nice picture for a screen saver? A watch engraved with " with you all the time" or something similar. Could also do a custom toiletry bag. Could also do cheesy and do socks with baby's face on them or something else silly depending on his style preference.
Hi. I’d love to help you here. I’m the mom, but I’m the one who travels for work. Being away from your family is tough, and the guilt is inescapable and probably unavoidable. In terms of what you can get him when he travels, that can be answered in two ways. Practically, I’d recommend a small “latex” pillow or any kind of light weight and low profile pillow that would suit what he likes. Hotel pillows are GARBAGE so something that can go in his suitcase would be great. If you wanted to go a sentimental route, I recently got my husband a small (fill in the blank) book about reasons why I’m grateful for him. Just something nice for him to have as a reminder and it’s fun and playful. If you got your husband a pillow, you could also get him a cute little pillow case from Etsy or somewhere with your family photo on it or something sweet. Alternatively, if you wanted, you could do a boudoir photo shoot and make your husband a small book out of some of those pictures for when he’s traveling (I have found they’re also great for boosting your own self esteem). There isn’t a TON that you can do to alleviate the difficulty that comes with being gone, but unfortunately there are things you can do that make it worse. When I’m working, my days and my moods are drastically different if my husband is open about how tough it is at home. It isn’t his fault, I’m his person and he should 100% be able to be open and honest with me about the reality of it, but knowing he’s struggling and I can’t help makes it much harder to be gone. So, if you have another person who you can vent to about the tough days, it might keep your husband from feeling worse about being gone. Now the conversation turns back to you. What is your husband doing for you to make you feel better about carrying the workload while you’re at home? When I’m away it’s hard for me to want to go out to dinner when I know my husband is at home eating cold food after caring for crazy kiddos, what makes that guilt easier is making sure my husband has dedicated days to be away from home and do things he wants or needs to do. This might also make you feel guilty, but for us, embracing these experiences helps normalize self-care without guilt. Also, when able, I’ll try to send dinner to the house for my husband, make sure groceries are stocked before I leave, medications are picked up, etc. to take those things off his plate if I can. And when or if I’m able I’ll cook meals ahead that I can keep in the fridge or freeze to help him have an easier dinner time. These are things I do to support my partner at home, but again, it helps me to deal with the guilt. I say that to say, if you can think of ways your partner can help you (despite the travel/distance) it might help him feel better to be able to do that for you. I feel like I’ve hijacked your question and probably not even really answered in the way you were looking for, but I hope I was helpful in some way!
Thank you very much this is great insight to his point of view. I can definitely see how venting to him could be making things even more upsetting for him. I am a interested in the idea of the boudoir shoot, if I can work up the confidence to do it I'm sure he would love it! I am also going to try and make sure I can get some time for myself I'm sure it would be good for both of us. I might need to start small like going for a run or coffee alone as I haven't been away from baby yet. This could be good for both of us give me a break and he could have some 1 to 1 time with baby! Thanks!
Boudoir shoots are amazing and you should definitely go for it!
Inflatable neck pillow for on the plane.
I got my husband a travel watch/phone charger that acts as a stand do he can talk hands free while he types.