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I have three kids - 8, 6, 2. I traveled for my entire career, but last year I just couldn’t take it anymore and 6 months ago I went internal. I was a year away from promotion but I knew that just meant more of the same. I didn’t need more money - I needed more time with my kids. It’s a personal decision.
I consult in a niche area that allows me to serve many clients with almost no travel. So that seems sustainable but I couldn’t do travel weekly.
That’s really fortunate. glad for you!
Rising Star
I have 4 kids, ranging from 5-10 years old. I have always traveled 2-3 days a week generally. I try to strategically plan my trips to clients to cram in as many client facing or team meetings as possible. I take red eyes, early flights, late flights - whatever to get home. I’ve always been doing this (for 15 years now) and it’s sustainable for us with a ton of support both at home and at work. I do think there’s a chance that this situation changes how people think about travel and puts more conversations on the table about what is possible to do remotely and I’m guessing the job market is going to be shit for awhile so it might be worth seeing how things change post-corona and deciding once things stabilize.
Chief
This is a tough, personal decision, but I would encourage you to think of it not as “I’m on a ledge and about to jump off and ruin everything!!!!” But more as discovering what is really important to you and your family. Maybe that’s taking a step back and traveling less, or maybe that’s continuing on but making a couple other changes. There’s no wrong answer as long as it’s the choice that is true to what you value.
My husband and I decided together that I wouldn’t travel anymore once our first baby arrived. Neither one of us wanted that kind of life for ourselves and our son. It did mean less earning potential for me, at least for now, but I really don’t miss the extra money. I feel so much more fulfilled by having the family time and less stress and worry from traveling. But that’s for me - you do what’s right for you!
I recently started traveling again (100% but hopefully down to 80% when things return back lost pandemic) and have elementary school age kids. This is after having taken a few years off from travel when I was with a “Big 4.” The older kids are, the easier it is; they are so busy with academics, sports and extracurriculars, we as a family are all working hard to make progress in our various goals - not just mommy. If you have spouse/former spouse/family back home to help (along with a good nanny), it’s also much more doable. It’s not easy though, and a lot of people will judge you for whatever choice you make - do what’s right for you and your values, and it’s ok to be creative and think outside of the box too.
I have 3 kids under 5. I have had several frank conversations with my leadership about what I think is sustainable. For me, that’s two nights away/week. And while we have been able to find these opportunities for the past two years, it’s clear to me that these conversations have put me on a mommy track. I no longer get pulled into the case-making work necessary to make partner. It’s exhausting to navigate these conversations. I’m asking myself the same thing - is this sustainable- but I do feel obligated to the mothers coming behind me and to the inclusive workplace we want to be. In my opinion, two nights/week is sufficient for the advisory work I do, and until we shift to think differently about non-road warrior paths to partner, we will continue to lose high-potential mothers.
I traveled 4 days/wk before quarantine and have a 9mo old and almost 3 yr old. When I started traveling after mat leave the baby was 6mo old.
I don't think it's the travel that gets to me as much as just the overall hours and stress. I've realized that on my current project it's actually worse working from home, because my family doesn't get to see me all day, I'm stressed and snappy when they do see me, and I'm always tired because I'm working 16 hr days while still trying to do breakfast and cook dinner and do bedtime and I'm just not getting enough sleep.
And this varies by project because I've had much better projects for the most part that made me feel like this was sustainable. But now I'm most so sure.
For context I’ve been consulting since before I had kids and now have a 6yo and 2 yo and one on the way. Have always traveled 60-70% which I have issue with, but frankly work just as hard/unsustainably when I’m home. One promotion (probably several years) from making Partner but the thought doesn’t appeal to me right now. This time in quarantine has helped my husband and I realize just how unhappy I/we’ve been. Is it time for me to go?
Conversation Starter
If you’re unhappy, I think you already know the answer to your question. You can always come back.
My two kiddos are kindergarten and preschool aged. Currently I have one local client and one that’s a 2.5 hour drive. I traveled 30-40% before kids and now it’s less than 20% (I measure “travel” in terms of bedtimes and wake ups that I miss. So I miss about 2 a week on average). Our culture generally isn’t 4-day a week travel anyway, but this works well for me. Being away like that would not be sustainable for me at all. Good luck with your decision
Also I‘m on a modified schedule where I only work 4 days a week. Fridays are my day to catch up on life, and then I pick the kids up early to have some good quality time with them.
It was not sustainable with my older employer where i had to travel almost every week and worked 10 to 12 hrs a day. My new job allows wfh and i never work more than 9 hrs a day now. So it really depends on who you work for tbh.
I am still doing consulting but for boutique Salesforce firm. They are hiring project manager and account director as well. Lmk if you are interested.
Pro
It is 100% sustainable for me but both my husband and i are in government work and do not travel.
Before kids, I traveled 4 days per week. After having kids, I had one PMO leader role that I did from home for a while with one trip per month, and then transitioned more to a portfolio role so that I am not assigned to any one project at a time. I travel, on average, once per month for a couple days at a time. It works for me and my family, but I miss being on the road and focused on one project and real delivery. At the same time, I have a desire to be at home for my kids too, so I have a constant struggle going on in my brain! The true consulting role would not be sustainable for me because of my desire to be the primary parent too. That being said, if I said I wanted to go all in in my career, my husband would take a step back and not be in consulting anymore, but I am not sure that I really want that