Business Trips With Kids How To Do It With No Tears

Business Trips With Kids How To Do It With No Tears As professional women, we know the common stereotypes of geschftliches miteinander travel men in suits jetting off to meetings or conferences while mom stays home with the kids... a stereotype that isnt all that different from how the professional world is imagined more generally. But what happens when its mom whos leaving on the business trip?Mothers face different kinds of expectations when we need to travel, so it makes sense to consider bringing the family with us, particularly if you find yourself feeling stressed and distracted by all the pre-travel prep work. While this alternative isnt for everyone, for some professional women it can make life easier and help us focus by cutting down on worries about whats going on at home.Here are a few factors to consider when trying to decide whether you should bring the family along on your next business trip. It may just be the work-life balance solution youve been looking for.Check wit h the BossBefore even thinking through the details involved in taking your family on a business trip, youll obviously need to check with your boss. While some employers are fine with including family on these trips, others draw a much stricter line between work and home.If it is okay with your boss, you may need to jump a few hurdles to book your family along with you. This is particularly the case if your company travels on a reduced airline rate that your family cant be included on. Youll want to consider if getting your family onto the saatkorn flight and arranging other aspects of the travel process will be too much to handle in addition to work preparations.Consider the DestinationWhile some kids will be happily entertained at the hotel pool no matter where you are, others will expect to go on excursions and spend their days skipping between various activities - which could be a problem if your travel is taking you to a small midwestern town where a client is located. It wont h elp anyone to drag your family along on that kind of jaunt if the kids are going to be bored and your spouse stressed by watching them in an unusual environment.It may be best, then, to take your family on trips only if there are fun activities nearby to keep everyone occupied. Otherwise youll be disrupting everyones schedule and patterns with little reward.Rehearse the RulesBefore leaving for your trip, go over your expectations for the trip with everyone - especially your spouse. Show them your schedule, when youll be available, and when youll be working, as well as what things theyll be doing during those times. This will help everyone feel prepared for the trip and create a sense of excitement for your kids.Its especially important that you review expectations with your spouse. Tell them about events they definitely wont be included in, when youll be reachable by phone or email, and when they shouldnt even consider calling unless there is an emergency. And as most moms know, fat hers who arent primarily responsible for childcare may have a lower emergency threshold, so make sure you take that into account.Business travel with family can be great, especially if theres a little extra time in your schedule or youre going somewhere especially fun. It can also be preferable to lining up extra child care, prepping meals in advance, and managing the other details involved in leaving the family behind for several days. This is all part of mastering work-life balance - the art of all professional women.This article waswritten by Adrienne Monson andoriginally published by Ellevate Network.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer