Sarah frequently travels on business. Having two small children, Sarah worries about missing out on time with her kids. Her last business trip to Chicago was longer than usual – one week. When Sarah called home her two-year-old had a melt-down and cried hysterically on the phone, “I want moommmyy…” and then demanded, “You come home now!” Sarah tried to console her daughter without much luck. Sarah was devastated! What’s a mom to do? As a busy woman traveler, how can you stay connected with your kids while you’re gone, and make it easier on everyone involved? Here are tips to keep in touch with your little ones while on business travel.
Before Your Trip
- Prepare your young children – let them know of your upcoming trip and how long you’ll be gone. Let them know who’ll be taking care of them while you’re gone. Also, assure your child that you’ll be talking by phone each day.
- Write a short love note or words of encouragement to have either dad or your caregiver put in your child’s lunch bag. The note can be as simple as, “I’m thinking of you. Have a great day!” Your child will like the surprise, and enjoy reading your note when she eats her lunch at school.
- For young children – Leave a night shirt or nightgown with your scent on it for your child to snuggle up with at night. Your familiar scent will give your child comfort and assurance at nighttime.
During Your Trip
- Call at bedtime to talk to your child. Better yet, use Skype so you can also see each other on the computer. You can still go through at least part of your bedtime routine by telling a bedtime story, singing to your child, or saying prayers.
- If the business trip lasts more than a couple days, then send a postcard. Kids will love to see a picture postcard of the city or hotel where you’re staying. They’ll look forward to getting the mail when you’re gone.
- If your child brings home artwork or other projects from school, have dad or your caregiver save it to show you when you get home.
After Your Trip
- Homecoming is always special. Enjoy the reunion with lots of hugs and kisses. Of course, be sure to tell your child how much you missed him, and how happy you are to see him!
- You may also wish to bring back a small trinket or memento from your travels. I don’t suggest going out and buying a gift for your kids on each trip, as this will set a precedence. Then they’ll expect a gift after each trip! As busy as you are on your business trips, you may not get a chance to go shopping. Instead, bring home a small memento from your business event or hotel. When I attend trade shows I always pick up “giveaways” from the booths. One time I brought my son a squishy ball (stress ball) with the company’s logo on it. He loved it!
By putting these tips into practice, you’ll stay connected with your children while away. Your children’s fears will be eased, they’ll feel more loved, and be better able to cope while you’re away. As a result, you can avoid the dreaded melt-down!
It’s 3:00 p.m. and you receive a call at work from your 13-year-old saying that she needs to be at the band performance tonight an hour early to rehearse. You respond, “Tonight?! Is your performance tonight? I thought it was tomorrow night!” You have a dinner meeting tonight with an important client, and your husband is out of town on business. Neither you nor your husband will be able to attend the performance. Upon hearing this news, your daughter has a meltdown.
How can you avoid such situations? How can you manage schedules when you have three active kids and work full-time? By effectively using a family calendar, you can better manage family members’ activities so your schedule runs more smoothly. Here are some tips to use a family calendar effectively.
Start by gathering documents with important dates, such as your children’s school calendar, sports calendars, church youth activities calendar, etc. Schedule important activities and events on your calendar for the next 6 months. Use color-coded pens. Use a different color for each family member, and use black ink for activities involving everyone in the family. Here’s a sample list of activities to include on your calendar:
- Holidays and vacations
- Birthdays, anniversaries and other special events
- Doctors and dentists appointments
- Professional appointments (including accountant, financial advisor, etc.)
- Important school dates (Back-to-school night, Open House, performances, minimum days, etc.)
- After school and extra-curricular activities (including sports practices, music lessons, dance lessons, youth group, etc.)
- Business conferences and business trips
Once important dates are listed, use your calendar on an as-needed basis to plan a family vacation or to schedule upcoming business trips, so you don’t miss important events. Review and update the family calendar on a weekly basis. This will help you keep track of everyone’s schedules, and also plan rides or carpools as necessary. By using a family calendar, you can keep track of dates and events so you don’t miss an important event – like your daughter’s band performance!
What tips can you suggest for managing family schedules or calendars? Please share with other readers.
Have you noticed that your energy level fluctuates throughout the day? We all have our own natural rhythm. Many people have more energy in the mornings, and then experience an energy lull in the middle of the afternoon. Some people are “morning people” who jump right out of bed in the morning with lots of energy. Not me! Others of us are “night owls”. We get our second wind in the evening.
It’s important to be aware of your energy cycles, so you can plan your work around your energy levels. If you plan important work during your prime energy level, you can accomplish so much more! Think about it. How do you feel when you’re in prime time? You feel energetic – like you can tackle the world! This is your prime productivity time. Take advantage of it, and focus on activities that require a lot of concentration or creativity.
During prime time, focus on:
- Important tasks
- Critical decisions
- Problem solving
- Brainstorming/generating ideas
- Complex thought
If you try to do these tasks during your energy lull, it will take much more time. Resist the urge to do easy, trivial things during prime time. Save routine paperwork for times when you have less energy. By planning your work around your prime energy levels, you’ll be amazed at how productive you can be!