When you travel without the kids

By Christine McLaughlin

Remember planning a trip in the days before you had a child? All you had to do was consider yourself and the weather in the far away city. But now that you're a mom, planning to get away without the kids can be so daunting that some moms forgo it altogether. Still, every mom needs to get away from time to time, and if it's for business, you have no choice.

To make the tough task of traveling away from your kids a little easier, veteran mom traveler and author of The Mom Book: 4,278 Tips for Moms! (Simon & Schuster), Stacy DeBroff, gives the following pointers:

1. Set limits on work-related trips If traveling for business, try not to be away from your child for more than a couple of days at a time and not every week. Also, make a point of avoiding weekend travel unless it's absolutely necessary.

2. Make sure you're covered If your spouse is in charge when you're away, make sure you both talk over your travel plans well ahead of time. He might not be used to the multitasking that's involved, which comes second nature to you. As a way of saying thank you for the additional responsibility he's taking on, DeBroff suggests giving him some extra time off when you return.

3. Leave a detailed schedule By far, the most intense task of planning for a trip is zeroing in on the daily schedules of your child/ children. To make it easy on everyone, draw up a master list of activities by day with phone numbers, contact information and driving directions. Post the schedule in a central place like the fridge. Don't forget to carry a copy of this master list with you on your trip to use as a reference when asking about what happened on a particular day or to go over the next day's schedule with the caregiver in charge.

4. Remember everyday needs Make a list of everything needed for school, day care and/or other activities. Make a note about your child's allergies, medications with exact times and doses. Remind your spouse or caregiver about car pools and who goes where at what time. In addition, DeBroff suggests talking with your spouse about planning or preparing meals ahead of time.

5. Keep in Touch Kids miss their moms, so it's important to remind them that you're thinking of them, too. First, make sure that you have a cell phone that works in the locations you anticipate traveling so you can be reached at any time. Agree upon a time to talk with your child every day. Before you leave, decorate a folder or a box for your child to keep her projects, artwork and school work in to show you when you return.

Finally, when you return from your trip, try to bring your child a little surprise gift. This way, especially if you have to travel regularly, he or she will have fun anticipating your return. Remember even toiletry samples from your bath, stationary from your hotel room, or even good old airplane snacks can be cool to a young child. Just like in planning for the trip, it's the thought that counts.

Christine McLaughlin, a mother of two young boys, is a freelance writer, editor and author of The Dog Lover's Companion to Philadelphia.