Traveling Mama

This morning I received an email sent by another mama (a mama newer to mommyhood than me - her babe is about 8 months, I think) who took her first business trip since earning the mommy title. It got me thinking about my own experience as a working mama who travels, so I decided to share the musings that I passed along...

Things that I would tell Tara about being a “traveling mama”… pumping in a family restroom in an airport, pumping at work, getting a knock at the door while pumping, carrying breastmilk through offices and airports and speeding (just a bit) on your way home from the airport will soon enough not seem so “out of the ordinary.” These things are only the beginning of her new normal, but these things will make her better (even though I must confess that there will be days, probably many days, she won't feel as though she's "better")...

They will make her better at work. They will make her a better mama. She will be more appreciative of co-workers who become a little less like co-workers when they show interest in her babe. She will be more appreciative of her hubby who steps up to be the mama and that papa while she is away. Her hubs will be a better daddy because he will get to do all of the things that mama usually gets to do (and it will make her so proud especially proud when she comes home and dad has mastered the ponytail, the half ponytail and the braid all in a matter of a couple of days :-)). She will accomplish more in less time. She will be more focused (some days :-)). She will be more appreciative of moments spent with her kiddo(s). I could go on and on…

Wish I could say that it gets easier to leave, but I’m almost 6 years in and I actually think in some ways it has gotten harder. What I do know for sure is that, like everything in life, it’s what you make it. You have to focus on the positive outcomes and trust that you are exactly where you are supposed to be at that point in time.