When my wife and I got married we lived outside london and I used to do a drive/train commute to LHR where I would then commute out to wherever I was working. When we decided to have a family we moved to Belfast where my family was (she is from Florida US) so she could have a bit of a support network. For the past 8 years I have been commuting out from BHD to LHR and then onwards if I a going out of the UK.

What I would say, if you can tolerate it, is that you consider breaking up the week rather than taking a block of days. So, for example, I will fly out on the early redeye to London on a Monday, stay over mon and back Tuesday night. Work form home Wednesday and then repeat on Thurs/Fri. This way its just two nights away although I get home late two nights.

Not sure what age your kids are but if they are over about 4 then get em a webcam and skype as much as possible. Its a poor pleasure for adults but kids love it.

having said all this, don't overlook the impact this will have on your family. A few years ago my wife noticed my daughter, then 5, walking to our gate on the road with an accordian. When she went and asked what our girl was up to she responded that she was going to busk to "earn money so daddy doesn't have to go away so much". It doesn't get much more heartbreaking than that.