Tuesday, April 30, 2013

A working mom's travel warts



I've always been told that I'm a smiley girl. I tend to look on the bright side. I love writing about stuffing my face at a great restaurant or conquering a new city. But post-babies, travel comes with more downers than delayed flights or crappy service at a restaurant.

These days, happy sighing after inhaling a luscious dinner is followed by a little guilt when I get a report that the kids screamed bloody murder when the sitter came (tonight).

A work roadtrip might entale alternating between tweaking a PowerPoint deck in the front seat and suiting up in the back seat with a hooter hider contraption and my b pump (true story: road trip to Indy earlier this month).

And, at least through the next few months, it definitely means pumping in gross airport bathroom stalls and often arguing with TSA agents about my non-threatening pump while going through security.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining (well sort of) -- I'm just admitting that travel is not all glamour and gorging. (That stuff is just what's fun to write about.)

Lean in or out -- I'm a big believer of doing whatever you know is best for you. I love my profession. I know I'm making the right choice for my family and racking up experience to draw from when my kids seek out career advice. I'll keep doing what I'm doing as long as I enjoy the stimulation and personal growth that a career can offer and have the unparalleled support of my amazing husband. It just makes me feel better to put out there that the balancing act is hard.