Parents and business traveling
The modern era is characterized by the increasing demands in all areas of a person's life. While traveling was once about specific professions, today more and more people of different professions travel for business reasons. A business trip can have a positive effect, not only because it’s a source of professional opportunities, but also because it gives a person a sense of freedom and independence by reducing the routine and giving the opportunity to know different places and people.
Αt the same time, a parent is also negatively affected. Not only the person gets physically tired, but also experiences feelings of stress, insecurity and guilt because of losing moments of family’s daily life. This fact, can often cause difficulties in relating with children or partner, problems in children's behavior, withdrawal and the appearance of psychosomatic problems.
The conflict between the parental and professional roles creates a situation in which the working parent is absent from many stages of the children's development. As a result each time the parent returns, the parent - child relationship needs to be redefined. It seems that the negative emotions of this situation not only affect the children, but also the partners who are left behind, since research has shown that they report more health problems and higher levels of stress.
In conclusion, we could say that if you manage business trips while showing love and interest to your family, you will be able to avoid the feeling of abandonment, fear, insecurity and anxiety experienced by children. At the same time, you will also feel less detached and guilty, so that you won’t have to oscillate between the role of parent and the professional one. In simple ways you can find your balance in the situation.
PREPARE YOUR FAMILY BEFORE THE TRIP:
Make sure everyone understands when, how and how long your business trip will last. Children have difficulties understanding time, so talk to them simply and explain as clearer as possible when and for how long you will be gone. Create a colorful calendar and mark each day something related to your trip, as well as the date of departure and return.
Discuss with them and describe the trip you have planned. Also, share with your children your feelings as far as the trip is concerned and let them express how they feel to you. In this way you will also be able to express your regret that you are leaving and to reassure the feelings of insecurity and anxiety they are experiencing.
Share quality time with your children and bond through common activities. You can also leave your children with an important object to watch over or encourage them to do an activity while you are away (eg a drawing of how they spent each day).
Keep communication lively and warm during the journey:
Send photos and messages and share with the family some of the moments you live. This will make you all feel less disconnected and remind those left behind that they are part of your daily thinking.
Use electronic media to communicate frequently and have audio-visual contact. Hearing the voice or seeing those we love often, conveys a feeling of love, safety and reassurance.
Return and show your love:
Make it clear to your family that you were thinking of them during the trip and show how happy you are to be back. During the trip, you can choose a small gift for each member of the family, so you will make each individual feel that you were thinking of them, no matter how far away you were.
Recount your trip with enthusiasm and show genuine interest in what happened while you were away.
Make sure you have time for your family. You can’t make up for all the time you were away, but it is equally important to spend some pleasant and quality time with your family after your return after your return. A walk or even cooking dinner together is enough to bring you together.