Islip dad Chris Ambrico says he?s forced to commute to Vermont in order to make ends meet, even though it breaks his heart to be away from his family five days a week.

Every Monday morning, Ambrico says goodbye to his wife and five children before dawn and makes the 230-mile commute to Brattleboro, Vermont.

"It's trying - leaving your family for five days,? Ambrico says. ?There's a ton of emotion on Sunday night."

Ambrico was laid off from his job at a Long Island car dealership last summer after working there for more than 20 years. He says finding another job in his industry anywhere near home was impossible, resulting in stacks of bills and phone calls from banks. Ambrico says he had no choice but to take the job he was offered in Vermont.

The Islip father says his commute makes weekends with his kids even more special. On Sundays, Ambrico plays softball with his 10-year-old daughter Caysie and enjoys the time he spends at church with 13-year-old daughter Samantha.

?We just sing and spend time together and just [are] together as a family,? Samantha says.

After making the colossal commute for three months, Ambrico just learned he was offered a job at a dealership in Southold.