Search Results for: blog work travel as a single parent part two what we miss

Gas Tank Getaway: Six Flags Great America

Don’t let high gas prices keep you home this summer.  There’s no need to sweat it out in your backyard when extreme family fun is less than a tank of gas away. If you live in Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan or Illinois, a mecca of mind-blowing adventure awaits at Six Flags Great America.  The popular theme park is located in Gurnee, Illinois; less than an hour’s drive from Chicago, Milwaukee, and a host of other major Midwestern cities. Great America’s convenient location is a major timesaver, but the savings don’t stop there.  In addition to banking gas money, you can continue … Continue reading →

Ways to Save on a Six Flags Staycation

It’s never a good day when travelers are actually excited to see gas prices hovering near $4. Three dollars and 89 cents for a gallon of unleaded–SCORE!! While the cost of gas has fallen slightly in the last couple weeks, from its highest levels since July 2008, Americans are still paying nearly a dollar more per gallon than a year ago. As a result, families from coast-to-coast continue to restructure their summer vacation plans in order to preserve their household budgets, and still have fun in the sun. That goes double for clans living in and around Chicago. According to … Continue reading →

Lesser-Known Programs with Shorter Timeframes: Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America

My last blog offered some general information, thoughts and cautions about adopting from countries with lesser-known, perhaps newer adoption programs with shorter wait times than many other country programs. It also profiled two Asian countries with such programs. This blog presents countries in the Caribbean, Latin America and Eastern Europe which have relatively short timeframes for adoption. Jamaica is a very new program begun in October 2008. It is offered through the adoption agency Hands Across the Water (you can also contact this agency, and agencies working in all the countries described here, through the contact wizard at RainbowKids.com, described … Continue reading →

Does Your Boss Have Kids?

If so, do you find that the status of “parent” makes him or her more sympathetic when your daycare calls demanding that you pick up your puking, feverish child NOW… and NOW is 10 a.m.? How does your boss react when you consistently leave the office at 4:30 on the dot to pick up your children from their after school program while the rest of your colleagues remain at the office until 6 or 7 p.m.? Does your boss feel your pain as you struggle to juggle career and family or does he or she resent your late mornings and … Continue reading →

The Value of Vacation

Posted on by

One of the drawbacks of being a freelancer is that just about every day is a work day for me. If I’m not writing, I’m at the cats-only boarding facility — a job I took mainly so I’d have some work outside the home, and a chance to interact with people. There are many days when I do both. This week, I took two days in a row off. I wrote ahead so my clients would have their projects covered. Time off was scheduled from the cats-only boarding facility. I had absolutely nothing to do. It was great. I didn’t … Continue reading →

Calls from Home when You’re on the Road

I am not a constant work traveler, but my work in the last couple years has started to take me on a few trips. While months may pass between the trips I have had to take for my business and work–it is still a big deal to my family when I am gone. As a single parent, the realities of traveling for one’s business can be daunting and while my kids do have another parent in the picture, it has so far not been a replacement for me. One of the challenges of business travel is those constant calls from … Continue reading →

International Photography Workshops

I review photo workshop opportunities all the time. And every once in a while I’ll find a real winner. The price is right; the location is amazing and the subjects are equally incredible. Those are the ones I post in this blog. Lately, though I have been hard pressed to find a workshop that I felt was worth the time and money… that is until I was sent this incredible opportunity. Grasshopper Adventures is offering a travel photography workshop to China for $3,400 per person. I know. It sounds steep, but look at what it includes: 14 nights’ accommodations, hotel … Continue reading →

Work Travel as a Single Parent–Part Two–What We Miss

I wrote earlier this morning about some of the realities of preparing to leave home and travel for work. In my own life, I have been able to avoid work travel until my children are older teenagers, but it is still not a walk in the park. Even though we can adjust and handle it, it is not easy–my kids miss me and I miss them; I also miss out on many daily details that I would ordinarily take care of. I noticed when I was gone to Scandinavia last fall that while I did not ache for my children … Continue reading →

What Do You Mean Pop-Tarts Are NOT Healthy?

Okay, I’m not completely nutritional challenged. I know that the popular toaster pastry isn’t exactly packed with vitamins and nutrients. However, I didn’t realize that you are better off skipping breakfast altogether than downing one as you dash out the door. It was news to me. A nutritional update I got directly from someone who knows a thing or two about the health benefits of food. Last week I drove to the TV station I used to work for to drop off a birthday present for a friend/former colleague. (I was out of town and missed her party.) As I … Continue reading →

Travel Deals For Expectant Parents

I’ve written about Babymoons in previous blogs, but this is one deal for expectant parents that’s hard to pass up. First, the setting is hard to beat—Honolulu, Hawaii. If you can’t find serenity in this island paradise then you may be in for a real shocker when your new bundle of joy arrives. Second: Free goodies. Here are the details on the hotel deal: W Honolulu Diamond Head (located at the end of Waikiki) is offering a “Baby Me” travel package for parents-to-be. It includes room, daily breakfast, and a gift basket filled with essentials for your new arrival. The … Continue reading →