tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38232942.post3356935461429288391..comments2008-11-10T18:12:15.183-08:00Robin Gorman Newmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06816036736416667540robin@lovecoach.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38232942.post-56194531499884735772008-11-10T18:12:00.000-08:002008-11-10T18:12:00.000-08:00I'm away from my 2 daughters (now they're 2.5 & 4.5, I'm 41) roughly 50 days/year. I went on a fun (debatable) trip to Spain when my first daughter was <1yr. While they were still nursing, I pumped and saved milk on all my trips. I used to try and get everything ready for them before I left-- now I force myself to not freak out-- it's better to spend more quality time just before I leave than to leave a freezer full of meals. Their Dad gets PLENTY of help while I'm gone (interestingly, I get none when he's gone, hmmmmm). My career is as much a part of my identity as anything and I want my daughters to know the true me. It's not easy and I'm not writing this with a cavalier attitude. The guilt never goes away. My daughters have learned the difference between 'working at the office' (i.e. I come back at dinnertime) and 'working on my big boat' (i.e. I'm gone for many days) and seem to be OK with both. I believe that the more 'at peace' I am with the idea of going away, the easier it is on my daughters. It's normal, not something to stress over, so they don't pick up stress from me.Kim Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04157964160344901344noreply@blogger.com