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The Flip Side of the Fun

February 18, 2010 by Susan

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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I love going to blogging conferences!

Meeting blogging friends in real life energizes me. Learning from each other and bonding over late night chats charges me up and I go home renewed (albeit exhausted).

But… there’s the flip side of jetting off for four nights…

sophia-feb-2010

Yes, you got it.

If you’re a mom like me, leaving behind those longing eyes, wiping away the tears and quieting the cries that beg you to not go (or plead over the phone for you to come home) makes going away almost unbearable.

I’ve been fortunate that my girls have survived my trips quite well, but it’s still very hard. Tonight as I was on my way to the hotel in Houston for the Mom 2.0 Summit, my husband called me with a screaming Sophia wailing into the phone that she wants MOMMY!

My poor little 2 year old was inconsolable as my husband tried to put her to bed. She wanted Mommy and Daddy wouldn’t do. Still too young to understand that I’m away on a trip, she screamed and cried until she likely was too tired and fell asleep.

My heart breaks thinking that I’ve caused my baby to be so sad.

But, what’s a mom to do?

Last year at this time, Sophia was still nursing and I brought her and Julia (along with my mother to babysit) WITH ME to the Mom 2.0 Summit.

In fact, here’s a cute video of them here at the Four Seasons last year.


The Four Seasons is Fabulously Family Friendly from 5 Minutes for Mom on Vimeo.

I’ve brought both girls to BlogHer 08, Mom 2.0 Summit 2009 and two StomperNet conferences. It was exhausting and expensive, but when Sophia was nursing, I had no other choice.

I try to limit my traveling as much as I can, but I do attend a few conferences each year. So as I type here in my hotel room, I’m trying to resolve my mommy guilt and know that my girls are well looked after by their Daddy.

What about you?

Have you left your children to go on a trip? Do you go to blogging conferences? Is it hard on you or your children while you’re gone?

Jendi was wondering about these questions too. On our video conversation site, she asked How Long Have You Been Away From Your Kids At One Time?

So tell us… leave a comment here AND/OR leave a video reply for Jendi.

Written by Susan, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
You get our feed right?

Btw, we also own two online stores — Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles and a A Rocking Horse to Love.

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About Susan

Susan Carraretto and her identical twin, Janice Croze, created 5 Minutes for Mom in 2006. Susan loves all social media, but her top addiction these days is Pinterest.

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18 Comments

  1. Holly says

    February 21, 2010 at 9:30 pm

    Nice blog! I look forward to reading more and checking back often! Thanks 🙂

    -Holly

    http://www.bowsoprecious.com

    Reply
  2. Rachel says

    February 20, 2010 at 11:39 am

    I just left my kids for the first time ever to go to Toy Fair this year. It was hard but honestly not as hard as I thought it would be. The actual leaving was really hard on me (not them, they were asleep) but once I was there I was enjoying the relative lack of responsibilities and they were enjoying being spoiled by the grandparents so much that I don’t think any of us really had too hard of a time.I’m still not sure I want to leave too often but it was kind of nice knowing that we both survived it.

    Reply
  3. Cascia says

    February 20, 2010 at 10:33 am

    That looks like a lot of fun! I believe that family vacations are very important. Last year we took all the kids down to San Diego. They had a blast. I also took the kids out to Wisconsin to see my family during the holidays.

    I’ve never been to a blogging conference but am planning on going to Blog World in October. Maybe next year I will attend the mom conferences.

    Reply
  4. Merry120 says

    February 19, 2010 at 9:40 pm

    We’ve left Evan at home quite a few times in his 2 1/2 year old life. I am soooo lucky to have in-laws that are willing/able/wonderful to take Evan when we are away. He absolutely LOVES staying with them. It’s a great break for me and my hubby and it gives Evan a chance to bond with his grandparents. My husband and I work together so we are occasionally away at the same time for work (so not just vacations). We are leaving Evan on Monday to spend a week in Mexico working on our marriage and getting some much needed couple time.

    Reply
  5. Jennifer Gruskoff says

    February 19, 2010 at 12:56 am

    Hate going away from them.

    Like your blog. Look forward to more.

    Thanks.

    Reply
  6. Mary says

    February 19, 2010 at 12:01 am

    I think the longest I’ve been away so far is about six hours. I doubt we’ll do more than that until she’s weaned, which may be another year or so the way she’s going.

    Reply
  7. Tony says

    February 18, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    You really have a good blog I look forward to reading more in the future

    Reply
  8. Michelle Pixie says

    February 18, 2010 at 6:02 pm

    My older girls go and stay with Oma (aka grandma) for 1 week every summer, but the little one never leaves my side. Hubby and I are hoping to take a trip next year for our 10 year wedding anniversary so I am going to start preparing myself for that! 😉

    Reply
  9. Mikki says

    February 18, 2010 at 5:28 pm

    Oh sweet friend.. can I call you that??

    My heart breaks for you, but I want to encourage you in that if you are doing what God has called you to do (which you are touching MANY lives), then He will fill in the gaps. If your dear husband supports you, you are truly blessed.
    Your sweet little girl may not even remember those tears.. but she IS going to remember all the laughs, giggles, hugs, and tremendous love you have for her.

    When we first started homeschooling and I thought I spend half the time YELLING.. I used to lay in bed and cry and tell my husband I was TOTALLY screwing up our girls..

    God has since shown me that that wasn’t true, and that HE is always watching over them too.

    May you sleep well this night knowing your family is ultimately in the care of their heavenly father and you will be reunited with your sweet little girl soon.

    Love
    Mikki

    Reply
  10. Alexandra says

    February 18, 2010 at 3:36 pm

    I didn’t leave my son until we had weaned and will probably do the same with my daughter. If I happen to go to a conference or anything she will just have to come!! Thankfully she is still young enough to not require a plane ticket 😉

    Reply
  11. Traci says

    February 18, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration was my very first blogging conference and due to budget constraints, my husband and 2 daughters stayed home.

    I missed them terribly the entire week (I was down there 2 days early thanks to the snowstorm!) but my daughters (6 and 3) were “OK” with mommy being at WDW – their favorite place (probably because I told them it was “for work”). However, my heart broke on Wednesday night when my 3 year old said “Mommy come home soon” as I talked to her on the phone.

    I told my husband that when I go next year (because we’re ALL hoping for a DisneySMMoms 2011) the whole family is going!

    Reply
  12. Brandy says

    February 18, 2010 at 10:14 am

    If i go on blogging trips, I limit once or twice a year. I understand it’s great to meet people, confrences, freebies etc. To me family is #1 and if a company or confrence really want me to go, they will find a way for my kids to go woth me.
    I have a 2, 3, and 4 yr old this is the time where they do their firsts and before you know it they are grown. I don’t want to miss it.
    I don’t understand how some people do it, trip after trip. I think it takes a big toll on young kids. My hubby has been deployed and been on so many biz trips, my kids are distant from him. Therapist says it’s because he is gone all the time

    Reply
  13. monica says

    February 18, 2010 at 10:03 am

    Only three times and I’ve only left the “baby” at the age of 3, so they were old enough to understand (and my husband is way more fun than I am, so it’s like a vacation for them when I’m gone, kwim?)

    Reply
  14. Susie's Homemade says

    February 18, 2010 at 9:48 am

    I don’t do blogging conferences but I would in a heartbeat. It is good for Mommy and kids to spend some time apart:-)

    Reply
  15. emily e says

    February 18, 2010 at 9:47 am

    My husband and I left my daughter (18 months at the time) with my mom to go on vacation in England for 10 days- everyone involved had a fabulous time. We skyped when we could so we could see her. She didn’t miss us one bit. We missed her, of course, but we were also having a blast so it wasn’t bad. But this past week she’s been with my MIL because we are moving and I just miss her terribly. She doesn’t seem to miss us that much- but I can’t wait to see her again.

    Reply
  16. Jules says

    February 18, 2010 at 9:44 am

    My kids are grown and I would love to attend these conferences. Time and money always seem to be in the way. Maybe if there was one here in Wisconsin….but I know that will never happen.

    Reply
  17. Amy says

    February 18, 2010 at 9:07 am

    I was thrilled for the opportunity to go to Blissdom, but for our family at this stage of life, mommy being gone once a year is plenty. “You can have it all, just not all at the same time.” Right now, my place is at home with my littles. 🙂

    Reply
  18. Heather says

    February 18, 2010 at 9:02 am

    I’m new to blogging and have never been to a blogging conference, but I hope to! I’m a military spouse so it’s always my husband leaving the kids for a trip. The only time I’ve left my kids was when my in-laws took them for a few days so my husband and I could have a “stay-cation.” The kids didn’t miss me one bit!! (They were too busy being spoiled by their grandparents.)

    Reply

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