Working, Traveling Mom Ideas: Turning Business Trips into Adventures

As a working mom who travels almost every week, I've learned the art of juggling my professional responsibilities with my most cherished role—being a mom. The reality for many of us, especially during Women's History Month, is a reminder of the intricate dance between career aspirations and family commitments. It's a narrative shared by 70% of women with children under 18, who actively participate in the labor force, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Yet, amidst striving for professional success, a significant number of women feel compelled to step back from their careers, often citing guilt and the challenge of balancing family life as primary reasons. But good news ladies, you can turn that very cherished treasure into your biggest motivator!

It takes small but meaningful deliberate choices and tradeoffs to make it all work. For example, my weekends are sacred. They are reserved for undivided attention towards my children—be it attending weekend sports, going to church, or simply enjoying family "veg and do nothing" time. The evenings are dedicated to bedtime prayers and stories, moments where we can connect and reflect on our days. It's about making deliberate choices, ensuring that when I'm with my children, I'm 100% present and when I'm at work I am 100% present too. It's a choice.

However, the weekdays bring a different rhythm, one that often takes me away from home. But rather than viewing this as a drawback, I've embraced it as an opportunity to get creative. Inspired by a friend's suggestion, I've started narrating my business trips or meetings as extraordinary adventures, where "Mami goes to slay dragons." This not only makes my absence a bit more bearable for my children but also enrolls them into my world, allowing them to see their mother as a hero in her own story.

I've also incorporated a playful element into my travels—a flat boy character, inspired by my son's creation of his own "Flat Stanley." We created a flat version of mami and of my boy so we can always have each other even in the distance.

I take photos of this flat companion everywhere I go! I must confess, it's become a fun little project when I travel, and gives my boy something to look forward to. The best part, every video and photo reminds him that he is always with me. This small gesture reinforces the bond we share, despite the physical distance.

Here are a few strategies for my fellow working moms to turn the balancing act into a fulfilling and fun adventure:

1. Embrace Storytelling: Transform your work tasks into engaging stories for your children. It's a creative way to share your world with them, making them feel part of your journey.
2. Create Traditions: Whether it's a special bedtime routine or a unique weekend activity, establishing these rituals can provide stability and memorable moments for your kids.
3. Involve Your Children: Share aspects of your job with them in ways they can understand. It can be as simple as discussing the places you visit or the interesting people you meet, or in my case the brands and products we have around the house and pantry that happen to be "mami's clients."
4. Prioritize Connection: Utilize technology to maintain a connection with your children while you're away. A simple video call or sharing photos can make a world of difference.
5. Choose Focused Time: Make conscious decisions about how you spend your time. When you're with your children, be fully present, setting aside distractions to cherish those moments. Resist the temptation to check emails and put the phone away! They notice and feel it.

In this Women's History Month, let's remind ourselves and each other that being a badass mother and a professional is not only possible—it's a reality for many. It's about choice, prioritization, and employing creative strategies to maintain strong bonds with our children while pursuing our career goals. Together, we can rewrite the narrative, proving that distance and demanding careers can coexist with deep, meaningful family connections.

Lili is a former corporate executive turned award-winning entrepreneur, investor and TED speaker. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Culture+ Group, a market research, strategy and inclusive marketing conglomerate- including CIEN+, The Choice+ and Human Dot Plus, and is listed 2x by the Inc. 5000 as one of America's Fastest Growing Privately-owned companies. She's also one of the less than 2% of Latinas serving on a public board as independent director for the global youth retailer Zumiez (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) and RCN Television (BVC: RCNTELEVI). Her Cultural Intelligence? Family of Companies, works with the world's most iconic corporations and brands that want to successfully understand how to tap into the power of culture and diverse markets to drive business growth. She is a frequent television business contributor seen on Fox Business, among others, and a sought after advisor to C-level executives and a committed supporter to the Hispanic community as a trustee and scholarship provider at the Hispanic Serving Institution, Southwestern Adventist University and mentor to the Stanford University Latino Business Action Network.