Sep 5 2008
Traveling for business
This summer I'll be taking a few business trips. I haven't done this since I left the corporate world seven years ago and I'm excited. Usually it's Paul who gets to go to conferences or to meet with clients.
I just came back from Tulsa, Oklahoma for an Usborne Book convention. Imagine 550 women giving our company's founder a standing ovation over new children's books. I love people who love books!
For Paul it was an intensive three days of dealing with babysitters, going to Rockies baseball games and a co-worker's party, and the daily upkeep of two kids, one who is semi-potty trained and the other who is obsessed with going to play golf right now. He managed, but as he admitted, just barely. For me it was an intensive three days of traveling, going to training sessions, awards banquets, networking, book shopping, and having a luxurious hotel room to myself. Poor ol' me.
Being a good wife and mom, I would check in regularly by cell phone to make sure everyone was still alive and sane. Calling from the airport the first evening to let Paul know I arrived, I found him getting the children ready for bed. I briefly talked to Paul, Lucie, and then Nathan. Everything was fine until Nathan put his sobbing sister back on the phone.
Lucie: "Mommy (sniff, sniff) I want you! I want you now, mommy! Mommy!" She starts crying again.
Me (at the curb waiting for the hotel shuttle trying hard not to sound like an idiot): "Oh baby. It's o.k. Mommy will be home soon. I love you. Please don't cry. It's o.k. Daddy and Nathan Boy are there. I love you. Don't cry. It's o.k. You're fine. I love you. Give the phone to Daddy please. Can you give the phone to Daddy?"
All the time I'm thinking, "I'm not going to cry. Oh my god, this sucks. I miss my baby. I'm not going to cry. How come the kids don't do this when Paul leaves? This is so damn hard, how do other parents do this?"
My next trip is in a month, lord help me.
