Friday
Apr242009
On the Road Again
Friday, April 24, 2009 at 04:51PM
The last time I had to travel without Kate and Jack, they scarcely seemed to notice I was gone. Granted, it was a brief getaway. But still, I'm not sure whether I should take comfort from that or feel hurt that they weren't clinging to my legs as I dragged my suitcase to the car.
Most of us do feel a pang of guilt when we have to travel, which seems to become even more acute once I find myself reclining peacefully in a quiet hotel room to watch a grownup TV show. I miss them terribly (and I know they miss me ... or I'm pretty sure, anyway), but in a way, I feel as though I bring them back a better mom in the process. It might sound like justification, but as my kids' major source of guidance through their lives, I show them the world through my eyes. If I'm not seeing the world, then their scope is limited, too.
Not surprisingly, you'll find some good resources out there that can help manage the guilt and other stuff associated with our business (and pleasure) travels that don't include the kids.
Tom Daly, an Atlanta-based marketing executive, is the editor of the Traveling Parent, an informative and well-written blog that offers help, resources, good anecdotes and the voices of other traveling parents. Check out the brief Q&A he did with me.
Most of us do feel a pang of guilt when we have to travel, which seems to become even more acute once I find myself reclining peacefully in a quiet hotel room to watch a grownup TV show. I miss them terribly (and I know they miss me ... or I'm pretty sure, anyway), but in a way, I feel as though I bring them back a better mom in the process. It might sound like justification, but as my kids' major source of guidance through their lives, I show them the world through my eyes. If I'm not seeing the world, then their scope is limited, too.
Not surprisingly, you'll find some good resources out there that can help manage the guilt and other stuff associated with our business (and pleasure) travels that don't include the kids.
Tom Daly, an Atlanta-based marketing executive, is the editor of the Traveling Parent, an informative and well-written blog that offers help, resources, good anecdotes and the voices of other traveling parents. Check out the brief Q&A he did with me.
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