Being a working mom is one thing. Being a working mom who travels is another.
Thankfully my husband has Mr. Mom qualities. He is nurturing, loving and a great caretaker for our current two monkeys. He only lacks a few things, one being he is color-blind and can’t choose clothes (I’m so not even kidding), and then other, well… he isn’t Mom.
So here we are and I am leaving on Thursday for the Blissdom Conference. The next few days I’ll spend an hour here and there getting the following done so that our house can remain as much in-sync as possible without Mom. Thankfully my job does not require a whole lot of travel, but when it does – here’s a quick guide to leaving dad in charge:
- Lay clothes out for each child – each day anyone in public will see them. I use to go to the extreme of labeling days, but I got over that.
- Purchase "Daddy staples". These include waffles, milk, bread and lunch meat. This guarantees the kids are fed something at home and not McDonalds or I-Hop each day I am out.
- Make sure to pack a web cam to Skype with the family.
- Go thru school work and make sure nothing is due that Dad can’t handle. Just realized 100′s day is Friday, therefore must get together an outfit for Z that makes her look old? Don’t ask, I don’t get it myself.
- Make love notes and place the day of departure. I started this as a last minute thought on one of my first business trips with kids at home. I think my daughter would explode and never let me hear the end of it if I didn’t have a "Good-Night Mommy LOVES You!" note on her pillow. I found a stash of these notes in her room during a recent nesting clean-up, anything I can do to remind them I love them – no matter distance – I will. Don’t forget to leave Dad love notes too – he’s the one who REALLY needs the thanks!
- Print out itineraries and phone numbers. I ususally email a copy to my husband, but this time around he’ll be getting more than enough information about my where abouts – with me being very pregnant – better be safe than sorry.
- Make sure that family knows that you are leaving town. This is good for those just in cases, when Dad needs a break, he’ll know who he can turn to for help.
The doctor said this is my last trip, so I better enjoy it until bambino arrives. I hope to soak in lots of good blog and social media info, enjoy a last few days by myself and meet some new friends. And hopefully all will remain calm and peaceful back at the casa.
What tips do you have for leaving Dad with the kids?
By the way, the above photo was used without permission from my husband.
