How to make dad going away less difficult for a 13 month old?

[minitoot]

I hope this is the right place to put this, wasn't sure where exactly... My 13 month old son is close to his dad, who has just gone away on a 2 week work trip. Any suggestions on how to make it less difficult for him (the baby)? This evening he has been saying 'Dada' and looking mournfully out of the window for the car :(

[MrsGSR]

I'm due with my first next year, my DH is in the army and often away so I've been researching this!

Some ideas I saw online were to buy a map and put stickers on it where you are and where dad to try and help them understand he's not just disappeared. Another was to make a big countdown calender so that you can cross the days off each morning/evening. And try to stay busy, take lots of trips to the park or friends houses.

As I said, I haven't tried any of these, and have no idea what age group they'd work with, but hopefully it gives you some ideas!