Home and Family > How To Make Business Travel Easier on Your Family
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Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Roxanne Batson
Women in business who need to travel as part of their work face the problem of
staying connected with their children when they are on the road. Most business
women try to fit in a phone call coupled with a long distance bedtime kiss and a few
even return home with presents each time. Here are some strategies that will make
that “phone home” even better and are less likely to break the bank.
Home Away From Home
Sometimes business travel means visiting the same locations regularly. If that’s the
case, take pictures of your hotel, the restaurant you frequent and the fitness space
you use while you’re there. Small children have a hard time understanding what
business moms do when they’re away; it’s comforting to picture her in a real place
that they can see and think about. Older children may enjoy having maps of the area
or a map they can use to track your business travel; makes a great geography
lesson as well.
Business Travel Means Treasure Hunt!
Often, the hardest time of day for kids and dads when women in business are away
is early evening, before dinner is ready. Everyone’s tired and hungry plus Mom’s not
home. Fill that space with treasure hunts! Leave clues, “Look under the green chair
in the study” that send your children from place to place until they find the treasure
you have hidden away. (Be sure to tell your spouse where the treasures are hidden
in case a clue gets eaten by the dog.) These offerings don’t need to be expensive.
The best treasures provide a welcome distraction that allows Dad to prepare the
evening meal and gets everyone to the table with a smile. Try coloring books, small
bouncing balls, toy figures, pipe cleaners or other non-messy craft supplies for
younger children. Older kids need less distraction but more jollying. Leave
magazines, comic books, coupon for skipping a chore or staying up late or a small
financial contribution to a new CD. The business woman who uses this tip may get
the question, “when’s your next trip?” from kids who are eager for another treasure
hunt.
Business Machines Make Business Travel Easier on Children
This tip works well for business women with older children. Give your family the fax
number at your hotel. Encourage your school age children to fax you good news
from school or send along a piece of homework for you to check. Even if you can’t
look over the materials until after your kids are in bed, you can still fax back a
response that can be read before school the next morning. E-mail and instant
messaging are also terrific ways to stay in touch.
Spark Up That Phone call!
It’s hard enough to get kids to tell you about their day in a face-to-face discussion;
conversations by telephone when on business travel can be even less satisfying. So,
use your business woman skills and strategize that call ahead of time. Agree
beforehand that you will exchange a new joke each day; carry a joke book with you
so you are prepared. Or, plan to talk about an event you know will be happening so
your child can be prepared with information to tell you. Everyone feels better when
that daily phone call is a high point rather than a let down.
Women in business can support their family during business travel; it just takes a
bit of resourcefulness and most business women have that attribute in ready supply.
Article submitted by WomenCorp , an
international women’s leadership development company that provides experiential
learning programs for women who want to succeed in business and life.
WomenCorp has a free newsletter.
******************************
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Brian Kirk
(205) 835-8167
http://www.WomenCorp.org
Roxanne is a former financial consultant and entrepreneur who founded WomenCorp an international women’s
leadership development company that
provides experiential learning programs for women who want to succeed in business
and life.
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