What do working single moms do about business travel?

[Anonymous]

I swap with my ex.

Thanks one friend who travels more frequently has always had an au pair, with a car for him/her to drive.

Another friend with no ex in the picture would hire friends nannies to take extra shifts to cover the overnights.

[Anonymous]

Swap with my ex. Or I would arrange for her to stay with a friend

[Anonymous]

This is one reason I’m staying in my marriage. DH has made it clear that he won’t be flexible about trading if we divorce and in my field, you don’t have much ability to control when you travel and it’s often short notice. I have no family and no close friends. I think an au pair could work in this situation but not for multiple days/nights as the sleeping time counts towards their weekly maximum if you aren’t there.
I would definitely need a new job but there aren’t a lot of options for me...the idea of a divorce and a new job with a big pay cut is all too daunting for me.

[Anonymous]

You can easily find overnight sitters on care.com. A lot of nurses or nursing students do this kind of work. Shouldn’t be hard to find someone responsible.

[Anonymous]

I traded law for teaching high school when i became a mom. No travel. I am home by 4pm each day. Single mom here. No dad in the picture, ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is one reason I’m staying in my marriage. DH has made it clear that he won’t be flexible about trading if we divorce and in my field, you don’t have much ability to control when you travel and it’s often short notice. I have no family and no close friends. I think an au pair could work in this situation but not for multiple days/nights as the sleeping time counts towards their weekly maximum if you aren’t there.
I would definitely need a new job but there aren’t a lot of options for me...the idea of a divorce and a new job with a big pay cut is all too daunting for me.

Au pairs cannot legally provide overnight childcare.

[Anonymous]

I took a no travel job for about 4 years. After that, I flew my mom in to stay with them. (Dad wasn't local, so not an option)

[Anonymous]

If it’s only a few times a year you will have no problem. I had great success with young school teachers who were happy to make extra money for pretty easy duty.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a single mom but my husband travels a ton and can't (won't?) schedule his work travel around mine... so I just don't rely on him unless the stars align.

I travel about once or twice a quarter and often for just 1 or 2 nights out. My work has a contract with a back-up childcare provider. I think you can only use it so many times per year but I don't have to pay any placement fees, etc. I haven't used them but it gives me piece of mind knowing it's there.

Otherwise, I use one of these options: 1) Only one good friend who I feel comfortable asking 2) Fly my parents in 3) Fly my in-laws in (they are amazing and will come if they can when asked) and 3) I have a distant family member who is a nanny in another city. She loves my kids and will also fly in if it works with her schedule. 4) Once during the summer so they didn't miss school, I just took them with me (location was near family).

Depending on travel location, I also will fly out on 5 am flights and get back at midnight as my oldest kid is old enough to babysit but I don't feel comfortable leaving them overnight. Means I might miss a dinner or something but it's also an option I try to use.

[Anonymous]

Fly my parents in. Or pay for an overnight babysitter

[Anonymous]

Maybe Dad is ‘in the picture’ but is abusive with the kids and that’s why she doesn’t want to send them to him? In any case why would she ask this question on dcum if she could just send the kids to their Dad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I may be heading towards a divorce. Have three lovely kids who ate a bit older (10, 12, 14).

My job requires me to travel 2-3 times a year. What do single moms do about business travel? Are there nannies who will do occasional full tome care? My family is not local.

Our nanny moves into my place while I’m away. The kids love i as she makes sure she has special surprises and treats for them when I’m gone.

I couldn’t do my job without her.

[Anonymous]

Your kids are old. Should be easy to find coverage for them.

[Anonymous]

If Dad is local, he should be the first choice. The single moms I know with out of state (or deadebeat dads) do: over night sitters (sometimes mulitple trading off). Swap with another single mom. Fly grandma in.

[Anonymous]

DD stays with a friend when I am away. Luckily work travel is relatively infrequent because I hate asking for favors and I hate leaving her.