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Packaging Horizons When You Absolutely, Positively, Have To Be There How do you handle situations when there's a tug of war between your work and your family, especially if it involves a business trip that takes you far from home for an extended period of time? So what if you've had the date circled on the calendar for months like Michelle Nordlinger did, only to have unexpected circumstances pop up that totally turned her careful plans upside down. It happens. Here's how three women dealt with the situations that women professionals often face when they have to travel. Wringing my hands was not working. Michelle F. Nordlinger Women in Packaging, Inc. My stay-at-home-mom friends were envious of my upcoming business trip to Chicago for three days. Meanwhile, it was all I could do to prepare professionally for the trip while trying to get the house in order before leaving so that the children would get to school, come home to a homework-conducive place, and have food for dinner. I knew my husband could handle it, but I needed to make sure everything was in order. I was in charge and had it under control. Everything was in place when three days before the trip we ran into a glitch ... my husband was called to an important client meeting that would overlap with my trip. How could this happen? All seasoned business travelers know that this can happen at anytime. The nanny cancels, your spouse has to be away at the same time, the baby's running a fever, your daughterÕs soccer team makes the finals! I am not a seasoned business traveler. I go to one show a year, one trip a year that is circled on the calendar for months in advance. No contingency plans are necessary because it is my only trip of the year. I repeat, how could this happen? That infamous commercial from the seventies reverberated in my ears, Calgon, take me away! Actually, don't take me away! Wait, here comes another slogan! When it (you) absolutely, positively has to be there. Now what? I was perfectly prepared for the trip to Pack Expo last fall when I was confronted with the reality that some things are out of my control. My husband and I HAD to be in separate cities at the same time. What would we do with the children? I felt like we were without options. We do not have family near us. The children couldn't travel with us. We couldn't send them to friends' houses on school nights. Wringing my hands was not working. My husband had the luxury of loosing his hair. I, on the other hand, had to watch as mine grayed before my very eyes. After struggling for a plan, we phoned a friend. No, not Regis! The girlfriend of a friend's 21-year-old son was unemployed, the oldest of three, and she loved kids. Hired! Never mind that the children had never met her or that she was a pioneer in the kitchen. They would be well cared for and Pizza Hut delivers! The key to our survival was flexibility. I had to admit that someone else could do it. We had to have some help, and the sitter was our ticket to successfully attending our meetings. Of course, the children would be safe. They would have fun AND get their homework done. We would check in and phone them frequently. The sitter had my wealth of medical, scheduling, and emergency contact information nailed to the refrigerator. After meeting her, we all had great confidence in Wendy. As it turns out, she made great money, I gave up a little control, and the children now love cold pizza for breakfast! Business travel turns out to be a win/win situation unless the airplanes are canceled. Liz Shewalter-Goodwin Crown Cork & Seal I find traveling has its pros and cons when you have small children and you, the parents, have careers. The unwritten rule is the mother takes care of the arrangements and packs all bags even when the husband is not traveling. Our daughter is 14 months old and is walking everywhere. Colleen is full of energy and very busy. With both parents at home she can be exhausting, so I do not envy my husband when I am gone. We have Òout-of-the-home childcare during work hours, and we take turns picking up Colleen going to and from our offices. If I travel overnight, I take Colleen to her first childcare provider (we just moved), which is close to our airport. I pack my bags, pack ColleenÕs food and bags, and take off to the airport. I drop off Colleen at a family whom she loves and where she is in excellent, trained hands. It is sad to drop her off, however, the joy of returning to Colleen makes up for it. I've found that travel is beneficial to my career. It is a mental break from the routine of daily rituals and gives me a chance to return refreshed to my daughter and husband. My husband has a chance to work on our new home, work late at the office, or visit with his brothers/neighbors at the local pub. Business travel turns out to be a win/win situation unless the airplanes are canceled and a new drama begins. It works for us! This time I'm sure nothing can go wrong. I guess I will know for sure next week when I get back! Dawn Gentry CSG, Inc. My first trip away from my only son took place just four months after he was born. It was my job as president of CSG, Inc. to lead my sales team through Pack Expo with a well-defined strategy and come back with great leads/orders. We had been planning for two years for the next show. It was our big opportunity to be in front of the players we had been talking to for months prior to the show. In addition to the fear of separation anxiety for the first time, the fact that the nanny took a full-time job the week before, and my husband's fear that something earth-shattering would happen while I was gone (it always happens when I am not there), I was professionally trying to pull everything together. It was by luck that a spot opened up in a top-rated day care facility in our neighborhood a few days before I was to leave for Chicago. I scrambled to get my son enrolled, took him for trips to the school to get him acclimated to the environment and then hopped on the plane for Chicago. I was sure my husband had everything under control from there. I learned from my experience! Now that I am headed out to another show shortly, I purchased a MEGA pack of diapers, two boxes of wipes, 35 jars of baby food, two cans of formula, a box of Cheerios, and a blonde wig in case my son misses me. This time I'm sure nothing can go wrong. I guess I will know for sure next week when I get back! RETURN TO PACKAGING HORIZONS EDITORIAL HIGHLIGHTS PAGE