Business Trip, Family Style

Posted by Charlene Prince Birkeland

Is the business trip going family style? Perhaps. According to a recent story from the Associated Press, more working parents who travel on occasional business trip are more willing to bring their families along for the ride.

According to -- drum roll -- a study conducted by the National Business Travel Association, the increase in family-style working vacations" is partly due to the "growing number of single parents, women in executive ranks, two-income families, and those simply looking to save a buck by turning company-paid trips into working vacations." To accomodate this growth, hotels and conference planners are adding childcare services and adding other kid-friendly perks to list of offerings.

The last time I had an official business trip was three years ago and I spent four days in Las Vegas. And I'll be perfectly honest: while it would have been nice to have my 2-year-old son and husband with me, I had much more fun, I mean, I got more work done, without them. Oh who am I kidding. I partied like a rock star.

Because sometimes, just sometimes, mommy needs a break.

My husband is the business trip dude in our family. The destination is a Southern California beach town (I know, what's up with that?) and we frequently discuss him planning a Friday trip so I can fly down with the boys and spend the weekend in this hipster little city. But it's not an official business trip for him at that point. It's the weekend.

As for me, I have two business trips lined up in the next few months. The first, when I become a Rock Star SuperMama for three days at Ladies Rock Camp and the second, when I attend the annual BlogHer conference in Chicago. My husband and I discussed whether or not we could turn these two trips into family vacations because both locations are incredibly family friendly. But the truth is that I will literally be in classes, workshops and social events for both trips. I would hate to be completely immersed in an activity and then have to leave because I had planned a date with my boys, and then resent that they came on the trip. And I know they would be miserable wanting mommy to come with them everywhere and I'd have to say no. I need to focus

And again, the honesty factor, I wouldn't mind having a little "me time." I love the recharging my batteries, coming home and feeling refreshed, and being 200 percent more smitten with my boys. And they with me, because we have a renewed appreciated for our time together. I also like my boys to see me travel on my own.

Now, if I traveled more frequently, perhaps I'd be singing a different song. But for now, any business trip I take will not be family style.

What about you? Do you take your family on business trips? Would you? And 'fess up...what do you like about solo business trips?

Comments

[Selfmademom]

I've always toyed with the idea of bringing the fam along on biz trips, but going to New Jersey, where I travel a lot, doesn't exactly seem like a relaxing vacation... oh well. Your upcoming trips sound great!

[Tiredbuthappy]

I've brought my son to two professional conferences in the last year. I learned a lot the first time and so the second time went much more smoothly. It helps that my spouse and I are in the same field, so we can take turns attending meetings and doing childcare duty.