Working Moms - Does anyone travel?

Lauren&Joe

I'm in the process of interviewing with a pretty major company for a sales position. It's a really good opportunity, but it involves travel. It's a territory that covers Cincinnati, Louisville and Nashville. We'd be talking one or two nights a week at most, and maybe not every week. So a couple of questions:

1.) How often do you travel?

2.) Is it completely horrible to be away?

3.) Does your husband work? And if so, how does your travel affect him?

4.) How do you deal with the feeling that you're "missing" everything, by being away?

5.) Do you ever feel like your kids won't know you're Mommy? (I have a 5 1/2 month old).

jerseygirl81

I'll preface my response by saying that I don't travel as often as you're proposing.

1.) How often do you travel? I'm lucky and only have to travel once per quarter, twice at the most

2.) Is it completely horrible to be away? Yes and no. I really enjoy being in new cities, and I honestly enjoy the time to myself. There's something to be said about having your own hotel room and your own giant bed and your own space and operating on your own schedule. I love those evenings when I'm done with work and can stay up all night reading or playing on the interwebs.

3.) Does your husband work? And if so, how does your travel affect him? Yes, but now he works from home since he's self-employed. It really doesn't affect him much, other than having to get up a little earlier to get Charlie dressed and to school. I'm sure he isn't a huge fan of flying solo for days at a time, but it is what it is.

4.) How do you deal with the feeling that you're "missing" everything, by being away? I don't feel like I'm missing anything, but I don't travel as much as you might be.

5.) Do you ever feel like your kids won't know you're Mommy? (I have a 5 1/2 month old). No, but, again, I don't travel as often.

Lauren&Joe

Thanks! I can definitely see the advantages of the alone time. I had to travel to Nashville on Wednesday, and the few hours I spend alone in the hotel room, and the time I had on the plane to sit, un-interupted and read a book were fabulous. I'm just worried that if I have to do this on a more regular basis I'm going to just miss Charlotte SO much, and that I'm putting so much more stress on Joe. Very torn because this is a REALLY good opportunity.

mag2point0

I travel occasionally, but I hadn't since DD was born until I took 2 trips to Chicago in the last few weeks. For me the hardest part was the logistics of pumping. I didn't feel like I was missing much and I definitely enjoyed the time to SLEEP and just do what I wanted to do after work.

DH has also traveled once in the last couple of months, so I got to experience being here by myself. I found it to be pretty stressful, but I think I worry about little things more than DH does. When I was gone, the first couple of nights were really hard for DH and DD because she was looking for me to nurse. Otherwise, it's just a matter of getting up earlier and, for DH, leaving work on time to get DD. It would be hard for him to do all of the time because he has meetings at 7 about once a week.

Otherwise, she definitely knew who I was when I came home and was probably a bit clingier than normal for a day or two.
 

laina2012

I travel, not a whole lot, but I do "out-and-backs" to DC and occasionally longer trips for a few days at a time depending on what the job needs, but it isn't horrible.  H travels just as much as I do, but we're a team and make it work.  And with technology being what it is today, I never feel like I am missing a thing.  When she is as young as she is skype is helpful just to be able to look at her and see she is fine .  Don't let the fear of "losing" your family stop you from a great opportunity.  We moms find ways to make things work!

Lauren&Joe

These stories are great to hear. It really is a great opportunity. Hopefully it comes through!

buckeyethor

To give you a perspective from the one that stays home while the other travels: He travels some... usually a week at a time. Sometimes it is nice to have the evenings to myself after she is in bed. I can watch whatever I want. Read whatever. It is nice and quiet as long as Audrey is sleeping well. I usually cook up a big batch of something so we can have leftovers throughout the week or we get take out. It is not bad if the house isn't a total disaster when he leaves.

Lauren&Joe

buckeyethor:

To give you a perspective from the one that stays home while the other travels: He travels some... usually a week at a time. Sometimes it is nice to have the evenings to myself after she is in bed. I can watch whatever I want. Read whatever. It is nice and quiet as long as Audrey is sleeping well. I usually cook up a big batch of something so we can have leftovers throughout the week or we get take out. It is not bad if the house isn't a total disaster when he leaves.

This is really interesting. And a good perspective for me. I wonder though, if staying at home with Audrey doesn't stress you out as much because you're the mom. DH just seems to get very stressed about little things with Charlotte. You know, last night he was in a tizzy when I walked in after flying home from my interview because she had a blow out at daycare and he couldn't figure out what "replacement" outfit to take tomorrow so she had more clothes there. Or he kind of freaked when she woke up three times at night. And I'm kind of like, well, three times isn't that unusual, you usually just sleep through them.

buckeyethor

Lauren&Joe:

buckeyethor:

To give you a perspective from the one that stays home while the other travels: He travels some... usually a week at a time. Sometimes it is nice to have the evenings to myself after she is in bed. I can watch whatever I want. Read whatever. It is nice and quiet as long as Audrey is sleeping well. I usually cook up a big batch of something so we can have leftovers throughout the week or we get take out. It is not bad if the house isn't a total disaster when he leaves.

This is really interesting. And a good perspective for me. I wonder though, if staying at home with Audrey doesn't stress you out as much because you're the mom. DH just seems to get very stressed about little things with Charlotte. You know, last night he was in a tizzy when I walked in after flying home from my interview because she had a blow out at daycare and he couldn't figure out what "replacement" outfit to take tomorrow so she had more clothes there. Or he kind of freaked when she woke up three times at night. And I'm kind of like, well, three times isn't that unusual, you usually just sleep through them.

I try to keep her outfits together on a hanger with matching top and bottom so he can just grab one. As far as night time... it is definitely his turn!

buckeyethor

Lauren&Joe:

buckeyethor:

To give you a perspective from the one that stays home while the other travels: He travels some... usually a week at a time. Sometimes it is nice to have the evenings to myself after she is in bed. I can watch whatever I want. Read whatever. It is nice and quiet as long as Audrey is sleeping well. I usually cook up a big batch of something so we can have leftovers throughout the week or we get take out. It is not bad if the house isn't a total disaster when he leaves.

This is really interesting. And a good perspective for me. I wonder though, if staying at home with Audrey doesn't stress you out as much because you're the mom. DH just seems to get very stressed about little things with Charlotte. You know, last night he was in a tizzy when I walked in after flying home from my interview because she had a blow out at daycare and he couldn't figure out what "replacement" outfit to take tomorrow so she had more clothes there. Or he kind of freaked when she woke up three times at night. And I'm kind of like, well, three times isn't that unusual, you usually just sleep through them.

I try to keep her outfits together on a hanger with matching top and bottom so he can just grab one. As far as night time... it is definitely his turn!