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Before you have kids, taking business trips is no big deal. <\/span><\/p>\n When you leave, you don\u2019t have to worry about people missing you. Maybe your wife is a little bummed, but she can handle it.<\/span><\/p>\n You can hop on a plane and hardly think about home at all.<\/span><\/p>\n But after children enter the picture, business travel becomes a bit more complicated. Now you\u2019ve got little humans who love you, will cling to your leg as you walk out the door, and don\u2019t really understand why you have to leave. They miss you when you go. And you miss them, too.<\/span><\/p>\n So what can you do to be a better dad while still fulfilling professional obligations?<\/span><\/p>\n Below we provide suggestions on how to handle business trips in ways that can promote more bonding with your kids, help you stay connected to your family while you\u2019re away, and allow you to return home smoothly. <\/span><\/p>\n Tell your kids about the trip just a couple days ahead of time. <\/b>Psychologists recommend not telling young children that you\u2019re leaving too far in advance because it might make them needlessly anxious. There\u2019s a chance they might stew on it all week and get themselves worked up about it. For older kids, you can tell them in whatever timeframe you want. <\/span><\/p>\n Explain how long you\u2019ll be gone in terms they can understand. <\/b>If your toddler is three years old and still doesn\u2019t have a grasp of the days of the week, telling her you\u2019ll be back Friday won\u2019t compute. Instead, say something like: \u201cI\u2019ll be home in three sleeps.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Research your destination with your kiddos. <\/b>Use your upcoming business trip as a chance to spend quality time with your kids and teach them something new. Get on the computer and research about your destination: show them where it is on a map; see how far it is from your home; find out what the weather is like there; pinpoint famous landmarks. <\/span><\/p>\n Let your children help you pack. <\/b>Another way to connect with your kids before you leave is to let them help you pack<\/a>. You can ask them things like \u201cWhat do I need to bring to Denver?\u201d \u201cHow many pairs of socks do I need?\u201d Let them put things in your bag, and use it as an opportunity to teach them how to pack a suitcase properly<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Leave some notes around the house. <\/b>Before you leave, jot a few short notes and put them around the house so your kids can find them while you\u2019re gone. You can put them in their lunch bags or under their pillows. (Mom might encourage them to leave notes for you in your suitcase\/briefcase in return.)<\/span><\/p>\n Video chat once a day at a set time. <\/b>Thanks to technology, staying connected with your kids while you\u2019re on the road has never been easier. Because it\u2019s so easy, many traveling dads might be tempted to check in frequently. Resist the urge to do so. Frequent phone calls or video chats might be a disruption to the regular family schedule back home. Instead, establish a single set check-in time with your wife to do a family video pow-wow. A good time can be right before the kids start winding down for bed; there\u2019s not much going on, and it\u2019s not so close to their turning in that you risk getting them amped up right before it\u2019s lights out.<\/span><\/p>\n What do you talk about when you\u2019re on the video call?<\/span><\/p>\n Instead of asking them the generic \u201cHow was your day?\u201d ask your kids specific questions like:<\/span><\/p>\n If your kids are older and doing homework, ask them about it and if they need any help. Maybe you can work on a tough word problem together via Skype.<\/span><\/p>\n Consider maintaining family bedtime routines. <\/b>Some families with young kiddos will maintain family bedtime routines even when Dad\u2019s away. He\u2019ll video conference himself in to read a story, sing a song, or say prayers before his kids go to sleep. <\/span><\/p>\n Personally, I find doing those sorts of things via the digital ether a little weird and awkward; I think that just as we don\u2019t attempt to give each other hugs via Skype, life\u2019s more intimate moments should be saved for times of face-to-face intimacy. But if it floats your family\u2019s boat, go for it!<\/span><\/p>\n Document your travel with text message pics. <\/b>While you should aim to do just one video chat a day with your kiddos, don\u2019t hesitate to check in more regularly via text messaging. Send your wife pics of your trip to show your kids. My son, Gus, is obsessed with airplanes, so if I ever need to fly for a business trip, I\u2019ll send Kate pictures of the plane I\u2019m on to show him what it looks like. He\u2019s also into hotel rooms, so I\u2019ll send a picture of my accommodations as soon as I arrive.<\/span><\/p>\nPre-Departure<\/h3>\n
While You\u2019re On the Road<\/h3>\n
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