Business Travel
Featured Articles:
How To Make Business Travel Easier on
Your Family
by: 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
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 http://www.womencorp.org , 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 at http://www.womencorp.org/wcinvitepage4.html.
About The Author
Roxanne Batson is a former financial consultant and entrepreneur who
founded
http://www.womencorp.org, an international women’s leadership
development company that provides experiential learning programs for
women who want to succeed in business and life.