DH does that quite a bit, when he can't come home when he planned because of x, y, z crisis. I'm fairly used to it, but I hate having to break it to the kids, especially if it happens more than once on the same trip.

it's not the same reasons I know, but you gotta "fake it till you make it". Grit those teeth and reserve the smile for him and the venting for us. It WILL get easier... not easy, often frustrating but you do get better at going with the flow.

Kerri.