How our Sennie has dealt with my 1 month abscence

[Sabauda]

Well, the moment I had been worried about finally arrived: I had to leave town for a month for my work. Our Sennie, You-You, is just 18 months, and had been totally bonded to me. Several weeks before I left, he "fell in love" with my husband (who he calls most adorably "You-You Papi") and decided he preferred him, although still affectionate and cuddly with me. While I was away, my husband reported that they had totally bonded, spent hours on the couch together in the evenings, and that You-You pretty much followed him all over the house.
I just got home after a month away. You-You was FURIOUS, attacking me, not letting me on the couch near my husband, really biting hard in fact my hands are in shreds. After a few days, we are doing better, he lets me cuddle and pet him, and naps with me, but still bites on and off, and "complains" at me in his angry voice. Also, no regurgitating or skirt dancing for me at ALL, which he used to to fairly regularly, a bit too often in fact. Previous to my going away, he was very good about independent play, entertaining himself with his toys, and chatting away to himself. He seems much clingier now, although in the last day or two is doing more independent activity.
I unfortunately have to go away again soon.
My tactic with him has always been patience...patience.....and more patience. It's heartbreaking to see him upset and angry with me.....ideas.....??

[4HAND]

This may sound bizaar,but I've heard it helps to explain to you bird before you go[as you would a small child]where you are going,when you'll be back and that you'll miss him.Also if you can leave a picture of yourself behind have your husband show it to him daily saying "Mom loves You-You"or something similar.
Tena

[Sabauda]

Not bazaar at all, in fact I had read that this what a good idea, and did in fact have that "long talk" with him about being gone for a while, missing him, etc. (When I leave the house every day I tell him I'll be back soon, as a matter of course) Also had some phone time with him - when he heard my voice on the phone he would say "You-eee" which is his name for me. My husband also reported that he would become rather agitated and distressed at those moments. Today we are doing a BIT better, had some cuddle time, but still not back to normal.

[Grillis]

Why would anything change for the bird if a human says, i'll be back soon? Can the bird think about what have been said to it in the past and think what is to come? I am just curious

[birdsnreps]

i swear birds know what you are telling them. they are a whole lot smarter than what we think they are. if you take the time to talk to them regularly, they will understand :)

[Sabauda]

Grillis, I have been amazed by this, but it seems to be true. (And of course it may be more about tone of voice than our actual words) I experimented, recording You-You's sounds when I left the house. When I walk out the door without saying anything, he "contact calls" for about 20 minutes after I go. When I say "bye bye sweetie, I'll be back soon", he calls for about 2 minutes. Both times, his calls started again about 2 minutes before I walked in the front door - we live on a busy, noisy street, but he is able to perceive my return even before I open our noisy front gate and come up the stairs.

[Grillis]

That's pretty amazing. I guess they learn what bye bye means, or what word is used.