Work travel

[mommyatty]

I'm going into my second week of intense multi-day travel. Frankly, I'm having a hard time emotionally for some reason. DS slept with us the last two nights, and I think a lot of that is that he missed Mommy last week. He's going through an intense Mommy-phase, so I think it's pretty hard on him right now.

Do you guys have any tips or tricks to make travel less sucky? We try to FaceTime every day or so depending on how things are going with schedules and moods of kids etc. And I bought some little mud masques to do a little pampering in my hotel room. But I'm just... bummed and sad.

[indyrowergirl]

I'm usually OUS when on work travel so I don't get to call/FaceTime much with the time differences. So I do some silly stuff.

Do the kids have a toy they like (but not their favorite lovey)? I take a small superhero bobble head with me that usually lives on DS2's dresser. I then take photos and create a Facebook album (easier to post than text when OUS) with the pictures of hero and funny comments about what he's doing. (Hiding in plants at airport, demanding juice on plane, etc.)

I also draw up a mini calendar and leave stickers so the kids (with DH's help) can track how many days I'm gone, and when I'll be home.

As for you, I do the same - beauty products for killing time in the hotel room. I also embrace eating solo at the hotel bar, ordering room service breakfast, hitting the hotel gym (or hot tub), etc. All the little things I never get to do at home. I try to find the little things to keep my spirits up until I can go home.

[indyrowergirl]

Oh! And movies! I watch all the movies I know DH would hate. I save them up for when I'm on the road. Or I get myself sucked into a book I picked up at the airport. Anything to take my mind off being homesick.

[mommyatty]

indyrowergirl, I love the toy idea! I'm doing that next time.

[twinmomma]

I generally end up ordering room service and holing myself up in my room watching trashy TV and movies. When I was gone for 9 days for my big trip recently, I even "watched" a show with my kids. They put the laptop on the couch between them and I just Skyped with them while they watched TV. They just wanted me to hang out, and it was a good way to do it. They could chat with me and I could talk to them but they weren't just emotional about me being gone because they were distracted.

[xctsclrx]

I feel you. I am usually gone one weekend a month and that one is not so bad, but he is only 2 right now. He has just started talking on the phone clearly with me. When I am gone for weeks at a time I am usually without service and that sucks. Luckily I am just really busy, so I don't have time to be sad.

If you are feeling bad I would schedule something fun for you every night you are gone to keep you busy. If they are feeling sad I love indyrowergirl, suggestion and I am probably going to start doing that too.

[rach]

If I'm gone for 3+ days, I really make an effort to bring things to make the hotel room more comfortable. I always fully unpack. I have a picture of my H and the girls that stays on the hotel nightstand or desk. I bring good chocolate and eat a square or two each night while watching tv. I bring actual hand soap for the bathroom and usually a small candle. Then I try to do things that there's never time for at home- I sit outside by the fire/hot tub/pool depending on the season. I read a book or two.

My shorter trips are generally such a whirlwind that there's not much time for pampering outside of room service.

Mornings, when time zones aren't an issue, are generally the best time for me to catch up with the family. I FaceTime with my oldest and at least get to say hi to the others.

I started the (rotten) trend of bringing my kids home something from every trip. If it's a new city, I try to find something unique to it. The toddler has a board book collection from all the places I've traveled. The older girls love when I find a candy store or similar that's known for that city. Sometimes, especially when I'm somewhere I've been many times already, the "something" may actually be something they need anyway- like cleat lace covers. If it's a conference, I usually just find a little giveaway from one of the booths.

I've been traveling quite a bit lately too and I'm so ready for a break from it.

[2chatter]

It gets easier when they are older - it was definitely harder the smaller they all were. When I traveled one week a month I was getting divorced with an infant and a 3/4 year old - it was a trainwreck. Things I did when they were little - wrote them notes, recorded myself reading their favorite books so they could have "me" read to them on demand (it was like the modern version of the Fisher Price record player), I called and talked to them less as it was upsetting to them and the convos weren't great when they were toddlers and very early preschool and I usually organized someone special to do something with them while I was gone - like my sister would pick up a special treat and bring it by on Wednesday night or they would go to my BFF's for dinner or have a play date after school.

I always bring back something practical - Utah is honey, NY is books or the mini Nutella things or syrups, OH is sports gear (clothes or fun soccer socks) or tea.

[billybumbler]

Can you record little voice messages like on whatsapp? My DD loooves getting and sending these and it works better than talking on the phone or Skype for her.

[sudokufan]

Apr 3, 2017 10:34:27 GMT -5 billybumbler said:

Can you record little voice messages like on whatsapp? My DD loooves getting and sending these and it works better than talking on the phone or Skype for her.

This.  My mom used to send us daily post cards, I feel like this is the modern equivalent, and my DS also loves getting little messages or movies.  He also enjoys "making movies" to send to his grandparents - I think he's going to be a director some day.  But it's a way they can "play" a bit long distance.
Save

[somebabiesmom]

Apr 3, 2017 5:24:45 GMT -5 mommyatty said:

indyrowergirl , I love the toy idea! I'm doing that next time.

To piggyback on that idea, you could pick out new toys for them now and take the pics, and present it to them when you get home (if you want to do it for this trip). Name the new toys your travel companions and tell the kids that you're going to take them with you on every trip. If the new toys are fuzzy animal backpacks, then your kids can fill them up with stuff to help you pack for your trip.

[somebabiesmom]

You can also buy stuffed animals that let you record songs or messages. Some of them loop. Or you can buy your own recorder and sew it into a toy or pillow.

[sdlaura]

I travel a lot and don't really have any great tips. We usually don't FaceTime unless it's a longer trip. I just wanted to throw out that I'm sorry you're feeling down about it - I try to remember that I think it's harder on me (and DH, being on his own) than it is on the kids.

[k3am]

We're on the receiving end.. DH tends to travel more than I do. We're west coast, so things tend to work a little more in our favor and he'll Facetime DD either in between his last meeting of the day and dinner or after dinner, which will fall either around the time I'm making dinner or bedtime.

I dream of getting my first trip post DS scheduled. Starfishing a bed by myself, not being woken up MOTN, and not having to spend my evening taking care of people sounds brilliant, but I can see how it would get old if I were doing it frequently.

[13liza]

I'm a lurker on this board, but travel frequently in the fall. My longest trip is 8-10 nights and I typically have just a few nights that I feel really sad and homesick. I do have the opportunity to make some friends when I travel and over the years have been able to form a friendship with another woman and we make it a point to stay in the same hotel and have a few meals together. When I travel to places where I don't have these connections I try to occupy myself with my favorite shows or read a book. I also have a calendar and cross off the days - it can be a little depressing if you have a long trip, but definitely gives me some perspective.
My DS is 16 months and was only about 10 months when I left for the first time so he didn't really even seem to care.

[seamonster]

I'm on the opposite end, but Skype or FaceTime at least once a day makes things easier at home. Helps answer the endless question of "where's daddy?". I try to take the opportunity to watch things H won't watch on Netflix and do some extra beauty routines.

[billybumbler]

Hi HeyMrsPotter! Welcome

[callmeKD]

Wow HeyMrsPotter you have a great attitude about your night away! Hope it all goes well. Give those twins a snuggle from me and mine when you get back.

[Widget123]

Hi and welcome HeyMrsPotter!