the "dad gone" phenomenon

Rarely does my beloved's work take him out of town -- thankfully.  He had to travel this week, though, leaving before the bambini got up Monday and due home this evening.  Upon awakening from her (late) nap Monday afternoon, the lass was running a fever.   It's still with her, and a little higher today.  Funny how these things happen when Dad is away.  In the absence of other symptoms, I'm thinking it's teething-related. As the fever increases, though, maybe it's her ears.   Whatever the cause of her obvious discomfort, she is not a happy camper.  On previous occasions my beloved's been out of town, we've had trips to urgent care for ear infections afflicting one or more of the bambini and similar ailments.  Thankfully, it's not been anything serious or emergent in nature. 

The mother of the family friends I refer so often has a name for this curious phenomenon of something happening to the house or car or someone getting sick when Dad is away:  "Dad Gone."  Her husband travels extensively, so she knows it well.  How single mothers and mothers whose husbands are deployed, travel a lot, or even work out of town on a regular basis do it is beyond me.

Barring any travel snags, my beloved will be home in a few hours.  We will all be so happy to see him.

*10pm post script: as soon as my beloved arrived home safely, I took the lass to urgent care upon the advice of our pediatrician's office.  Diagnosis: first ear infection.  Seems our brand of "Dad Gone" phenomenon skews distinctly toward ear infections, as that's what seems to come up most often.  Wonder what that's about??