For those who travel - how do you cope?

[sassie]

I just got word Im leaving for a few days. To spend time with My brother who's been away for the past 8 years. My family lives in AZ - so since Ive gotten as many birds as I do now Ive always canclled going. I hate to leave my babys - they wont be alone *roomate is here* but Me, Im not!!

How has your bird adjusted to you being away? sounds like it might be around 10-14 days that I am gone. 1/2 of me is soo excited, but the other 1/2 is very worried/sad ect.

I have printed off some pictures to take with me. I know I can call home and talk to them - but will it make things worse or better if I do that? Thanks for the advise - and for listening to me ramble

[kathleen]

I have only been away from Pumpkin once and it was just overnight. I'm going to have to do it again in November and I'm working on it now. I wonder, though, do we put our emotions on to them. I think if I leave him, will he think I'm not coming back? But, then again, people board their birds all the time because I see it in the bird store I go to. I think it's really my heart that has difficulty letting go, not Pumpkin. I would also like to know how others leave their fids.

[svolk]

I've been there and I'll be there again in about a month. In about 1.5 years of having birds the longest I was away was one, maybe two nights. Until last summer, I had a MONTH long business trip and couldn't come home at all during that month. My husband was home with the fids, but I thought I was going to die.

I talked to my birds about it, told them that I was going to be gone for X days - it sounds silly, but it helped me and I want to believe that it helped them too. After all, I'm sure they sense our anxiety when we have things come up like this. I would count on my fingers how many days I would be away. While I was gone my husband would sometimes put me on speaker phone to talk to them when I called. I also had him count down the days til I came home to them (he swears he did, but who really knows ).

I came home to birds who were very happy to see me - not upset at me at all. Actually Jerry looked purely shocked for about 5 minutes when I walked into their room, he just froze. So honestly I think I took everything harder than they did. It was VERY tough on me to be away from them for so long.

And in one month I'll be going on the same business trip. I get to come home for 4 days for Thanksgiving, but still I'll be gone for about 2.5 weeks before the holiday, and then another week after the holiday.

[kathleen]

I tell Pumpkin that I'm going to be late. I think you're right because it makes me feel better. He seem cool about it.

[Parrotpeople]

I'll be leaving my babies for 9 days in a couple of weeks, but they'll be home with my husband. But I honestly hesitated on taking my two teenagers on a FREE trip to Italy, because I didn't want to leave the fids ... Poppy's first birthday will be while I'm gone! And my daughter's 16th will be while we're in Italy too, what a great experience for her!

But we're going and I know they will be fine. I fear, too, that they will think I left them forever. My husband already said breakfast won't be served soooo early! The fids & I are early risers ... Dad not so much.

[catschair]

I travel from time to time on business and for vacations. As long as I have a good sitter lined up (and sometimes a fid friendly neighbor for social enrichment), I don't worry about it too much. They seem to muddle through just fine, though they get less attention in my absence (and I am much nicer when I have had a good holiday!)

[sassie]

Well I leave this am - I'm absolutely dying. My Teko *TAG* is chattering up a storm. I hope hes wishing me well & not cussing me out for disturbing his sleep LOL!

:/ I'm going to miss my baby's so much. I think after this holiday, I wont be leaving again for some time :)