Bringing your family along on business trips are fun. OK, most of the time it’s a stressful mess juggling work and family commitments. That aside, it can be amazing. However, achieving that level of amazingness is only possible by eliminating guesswork and committing to some careful planning. This eliminates friction points that are easily avoidable with a wee bit of forethought.
And when done right, it can be a positive and fun experience for the road warrior, his or her partner, and the little ones too.
Here’s how to find familial bliss when bringing the family along for a work assignment:
Pre-Planning
Be clear regarding expectations during the planning process. If I’m taking my crew with me, they must know the hours I am available (hardly at all), or not available (most of the time). Not being clear here creates unnecessary confusion, setting the stage for a spousal showdown as notorious as the Hamilton Burr shootout of 1804. Avoid potential anger and resentment by setting expectations before agreeing the family is coming along. If you are only going to be available after 6pm, for example, that must be clearly understood. If not, you could wind up sleeping in the lobby of your Best Western hotel, rather than in that comfy bed upstairs. Don’t ask me how I am so sure, but the bed is most definitely cozier than a pool lounge at 3am.
Check the Amenities
When I stay at a Best Western hotel during a business trip when the family is accompanying me, I always check the hotel’s amenities during the planning process. This gives us some built-in options. When a property has an indoor pool, for example, I can be sure that activity will take up plenty of time each day, and add much needed structure.
Research Local Activities
When my twin boys (now teenagers) were much smaller, we’d always be sure there was a playground nearby where they could play each day for several hours. I’d also call the Best Western where I plan to stay, and ask them what some age appropriate activities are within the neighborhood. There’s nothing worse than coming back after a long day to a frazzled family that didn’t have set plans. This is critical to easing strain and creating fun for them.
Meet for Meals
Breakfast is easy. I try to make sure we all take advantage of Best Western’s complimentary breakfast each morning and have some family fun. Personally, this was also a good time for me to spend time with my boys when they were little whilst giving mom a chance to do something for herself, such as visiting the fitness center. As a family, we particularly loved making fresh waffles. One thing that wasn’t as much fun, fighting with them to eat fresh fruit.
Create a Homework Plan
When my work day ends, it never means the workday is ending. There’s always more to do. So, I must be sure to have a quiet workspace away from the room. My work habits are such that I’m either staying up later than the family (when we were all much younger), or now, where I wake up hours before the family. I usually take my work downstairs, have a cold beer (or morning coffee), get my work done and let the family sleep or hang out.