New York Times writer Lisa W. Foderaro explores one oft-forgotten advantage of business travel for working women.
Hers is the guilty pleasure of the traveling working mom. After slogging through airports, sitting through PowerPoints and networking through lunches, there is, at the end of the day, a small taste of freedom. And as hard as it can be to balance the demands of business trips and family life, for the relatively small group of employed mothers who travel, it can be delicious.
No chores to tackle. No homework to oversee. No bedtimes to bird-dog. For many working mothers, business trips become minivacations. The simple pleasure of unbroken sleep and an uninterrupted meal can feel like an indulgent getaway for these women burdened at both ends. But throw in a massage or a leisurely dinner with an old friend, which they often do, and for the parent of a toddler, preschooler or 'tween, it becomes a true holiday.
International Herald Tribune | On business trips, working moms get a vacation