{"id":652,"date":"2024-04-11T02:40:15","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T02:40:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/?p=652"},"modified":"2024-04-11T02:40:15","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T02:40:15","slug":"event-planning-tips-making-it-work-for-the-working-parent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/event-planning-tips-making-it-work-for-the-working-parent\/","title":{"rendered":"Event Planning Tips \u2013 Making it Work for the Working Parent"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66299cec14277\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66299cec14277\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/event-planning-tips-making-it-work-for-the-working-parent\/#Event_Planning_Tips_%E2%80%93_Making_it_Work_for_your_Family\" title=\"Event Planning Tips \u2013 Making it Work for your Family\">Event Planning Tips \u2013 Making it Work for your Family<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/event-planning-tips-making-it-work-for-the-working-parent\/#Event_Planning_Tips_%E2%80%93_Being_There_when_youre_Gone\" title=\"Event Planning Tips \u2013 Being There when you\u2019re Gone\">Event Planning Tips \u2013 Being There when you\u2019re Gone<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/event-planning-tips-making-it-work-for-the-working-parent\/#Event_Planning_Tips_%E2%80%93_Making_it_Easier_for_Your_Kids\" title=\"Event Planning Tips \u2013 Making it Easier for Your Kids\">Event Planning Tips \u2013 Making it Easier for Your Kids<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/event-planning-tips-making-it-work-for-the-working-parent\/#Event_Planning_Tips_%E2%80%93_Maximizing_Your_Home_Time\" title=\"Event Planning Tips \u2013 Maximizing Your Home Time\">Event Planning Tips \u2013 Maximizing Your Home Time<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>As working parents, we all feel guilt. I think it\u2019s bred into us. We feel guilty about not spending enough time with our kids. We feel guilty about not being able to give them everything (we feel) they deserve. We feel guilty about being away from them too often. Heck, we even feel guilty about feeling guilty!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what should you do when you not only work, but have to travel on a regular basis? But unlike the \u201chorse and buggy\u201d era, there are so many ways to make sure your kids are okay with your travel, even if you\u2019re not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Event_Planning_Tips_%E2%80%93_Making_it_Work_for_your_Family\"><\/span>Event Planning Tips \u2013 Making it Work for your Family<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Working parents have dealing with this issue for centuries. But a few hundred years ago, people were gone for months, or even years, at a time. Imagine going on a business trip, only to return and find your children are half grown. Even a few decades ago, long distance was incredibly expensive and only used sparingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today technology has changed everything. We have email, Skype, cell phones, video recorders and other tools that we can utilize to stay connected with our families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Event_Planning_Tips_%E2%80%93_Being_There_when_youre_Gone\"><\/span>Event Planning Tips \u2013 Being There when you\u2019re Gone<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I know one family where the husband travels almost weekly. And it wasn\u2019t that long ago that their phone bills were out of control. But with the advent of the cell phone, everything has changed. She often forgets what city he\u2019s in, because she doesn\u2019t have to know. She doesn\u2019t have to know the city, the client or even which hotel he\u2019s staying in. Because the number she\u2019s calling is always the same. An unbelievable long distance plan allows them to stay in touch and speak every morning and evening. She feels connected in a way that wasn\u2019t possible fifteen years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every traveling parent should have Skype. Not only is it free (yea free!), but it enables you to have face to face time with your family. They can&nbsp; talk about their day and see your reaction or you can read a bed time story and actually watch them drift off to sleep. Actual face time increases the connection and makes it easier for your kids (and you) when you travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Missing school plays and recitals has always been a sticking point for traveling parents. Video recorders have changed that. But now the iphone is taking it a step further! An app called FaceTime allows you to have a face to face conversation (similar to Skype) and you can watch that ballet recital or soccer game in real time. It really is the next best thing to being there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Event_Planning_Tips_%E2%80%93_Making_it_Easier_for_Your_Kids\"><\/span>Event Planning Tips \u2013 Making it Easier for Your Kids<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Experts have written articles and books about it. Parental guilt is a big business and authors and therapists are getting rich from our guilt. But what can we do to ensure our kids are okay with us being gone? A few simple recommendations are\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t make a big deal out of i<\/strong>t \u2013 You\u2019re going to work, just like any other day. You\u2019re just going to be gone for a little longer than 9 to 5. The bigger deal you make out of it, the harder it is for your kids. Make it easy and casual for them, even if you\u2019re crying inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Get them involved<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Let them know where you\u2019re going! Go online with your kids and show them the city you\u2019re traveling to. Use it as an educational tool and find know some interesting facts about your destination city (Did you know that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland?). If you discuss your trip and involve your kids, they\u2019re less likely to feel lonely or left out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bring them back a present<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Opinions differ on this point. But I think it\u2019s important to let your kids know you\u2019re thinking of them when you\u2019re gone, within boundaries. But be careful. If you buy expensive gifts on a regular basis, it indicates a certain level of guilt (which yes, we do feel). It may leave you open to manipulation and set a standard that you shouldn\u2019t have to meet. But a small gift, native to the area, can help your child feel more involved and let them know that they\u2019re always on your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Event_Planning_Tips_%E2%80%93_Maximizing_Your_Home_Time\"><\/span>Event Planning Tips \u2013 Maximizing Your Home Time<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is incredibly important. Take advantage of the time you\u2019re not traveling. Make the effort to spend time with your kids. It doesn\u2019t have to be (and it shouldn\u2019t be) a wild crazy party every time you\u2019re home. Go to the park, play a game, even just hanging out. Quality time with your family is what means the most to your kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter how you connect with your kids when you travel, or how often, guilt will be a factor. But it\u2019s so important to remember that guilt is counterproductive. Make the most of when you\u2019re home and enjoy the time you and your kids have together.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As working parents, we all feel guilt. I think it\u2019s bred into us. We feel guilty about not spending enough time with our kids. We feel guilty about not being<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=652"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":653,"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652\/revisions\/653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}