How I Found Myself Again Through Work, Travel and Parenting - and What I’ve Learnt Along the Way

Since I started my role with Intrepid Travel in February 2023, I’ve had a number of people ask me how I balance the juggling act of managing a leadership role with being a parent of a young son. Throw in regular travel for work, and you’ve got yourself a whole new level of adventure – both exciting and guilt-inducing!

The Upside: Finding Yourself Again

First off, let’s talk about the perks. Traveling for work is a privilege and for me it is incredibly fulfilling. I get to explore new cities, meet interesting people, and learn so much about our business. Since joining Intrepid, I’ve travelled to 14 countries, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Colombia and Spain to meet our global teams. In the next few weeks, I’ll be joining our teams in Vietnam, Japan and Indonesia, and later this year I’ll be heading to Peru, Costa Rica and Ecuador for the first time. ?As a parent, I come back with stories that spark my son’s imagination and broaden his worldview.

Becoming a parent to Ryan?in 2017 has changed me in many ways, and I love being a mum. However, it’s also easy to lose sight of your individual identity amidst the demands of parenthood. Traveling for work has surprisingly offered a pathway to rediscovering who I am when I’m not just ‘mum’.

When you’re on the road, you have moments to yourself – on flights, in hotel rooms, or even a few sleep ins past 5am! I use this time to read a whole book, reflect on my goals, eat at a non-kid friendly restaurant and have lots of adult conversation.

The Downside: Dealing with Guilt

Having a family and working is a juggle and sometimes all the balls are in the air and sometimes I feel like I have dropped one (or more!). After my last overseas work trip, arriving home on no sleep, I took a "quick" nap, slept through my alarm and missed school pick up. Instead of the emotional reunion I expected with Ryan, I ended up racing to the school half an hour after pick up with him greeting me by telling me off - the guilt is real!

Leaving your little one behind, even if they’re in capable hands, is pretty tough. On my last trip Ryan was home sick for nearly two weeks and I felt so conflicted not being there for him and guilty that my partner had to manage it all on his own. But - they were both fine and the trip was pretty awesome. I also know that I’m incredibly lucky to have a supportive partner Tim Marshall , and that many solo and partnered parents are not in the same position as I am. In that case, the juggle would be even greater - or at times impossible.

I do worry I am missing out on some milestones, but I think it’s natural to feel this way. And I miss my son a lot, honestly probably more than he misses me! From my experience, kids are super resilient and adapt really quickly.

There is also a mantra I hear a lot - family first, always. This is mostly true, but I think for many people having a stable job and/or loving what you do means prioritising work at times too is more realistic.

In many cultures, the expectations placed on mothers versus fathers can be very different. While a dad traveling for work may be seen as providing for his family, a mother doing the same may be judged for prioritising her career over her children's needs. That’s true even here in Australia. Many times, I have been asked who is looking after my son, and that question is never asked of my male peers! All parents have valuable contributions to make – both in their careers and in their children’s lives. I try and remember this when I feel guilt coming on.

Over the past 18 months, here’s what I’ve learnt about juggling career, travel and parenting:

1. Communication is key: Keep the lines of communication open with your child and your partner or caregiver. Video calls, messages or whatever works for your family make a huge difference for them and you. And be open with your manager (shout out to James Thornton for his suppoprt!) and team so everyone is clear on what is going on.
2. Quality over quantity: When you’re home or when you’re travelling, make those moments count. Put your full attention into time with your family when you're home and go all in for whatever event or opportunity you have when you are working and travelling. Don’t let guilt get in the way of a great experience.
3. Lean on your support system: Whether it’s family, friends, or outside help, having a strong support network is crucial.
4. Work for a supportive employer: At Intrepid Travel , we provide additional support for staff who are travelling and have caring and family responsibilities, including financial support for out-of-pocket caring expenses, as well as supporting family members to accompany staff for extended periods of travel. We also have a very flexible, hybrid work environment - this is a game changer when you travel regularly or have family commitments.
5. Stay organised: Plan ahead with your partner or helpers as much as possible. Work out the logistics before you go. Who is doing drop off and pick up, what activities are on, which kids party presents do you need to arrange? My first trip I thought I could help from afar, but between a busy schedule and time zone differences, it resulted in our son having no lunch order. Whoops, lesson learned!
6. Plan for your return: Make sure your partner or helpers have some down time booked in. Make time to reconnect and don’t forget that?your kid(s) will definitely be waiting for their presents!
7. Self-care matters: Take time to recharge when you get back too. Assume you will have jetlag and don’t commit to 5 activities your first weekend back. Work from home for a few days if you can.
8. Accept that stuff will go wrong: Your child will get sick, you partner will forget to make the novelty hat for the book parade and your luggage will get lost. Keep your sense of humour? - it will all be fine!

Embracing the adventure

I hope Ryan can look back on this time and feel proud of me and see that work can provide meaning, challenge and lifelong friendships.

So, to all the working parents out there who are on the move – here’s to breaking free from guilt and embracing the adventure!