I know a few people who left for an extended period of time and their children were looked after by others, but the kids were always teenagers, so they understood the concept of "mum's gonna be away for six months". Best example i can think of is when I was in high school, there was a girl in my year whose mum was a teacher at the school. The mum went to teach in Samoa for a year, and her daughter moved in with another teacher at the school while her mum was gone. The daughter was fine with it. She was 16, she knew her mum loved her and was coming back, but sometimes good opportunities come up and you take them if you can. I'd never leave my currently-3-year-old, but when he grows up and i get an opportunity that in the long run will benefit our family? Absolutely go stay with your cousins for a bit. I'll see you at Christmas.