The Silver Lining of Work Trips

I just got back from a long work trip. Back-to-back meetings, a lot of presenting, the prep work that no one sees, and long days that started early and ended late. By the time I caught the early flight home, I was ready. Ready for my own bed, my own kitchen, my own people.

And from the reactions at home, it turns out I was missed. My kids were screaming "Mama!" at the school door pick-up before I was even all the way through it. Our eighty-pound dog tried to climb directly into my lap as if I'd been gone a year instead of a week. My husband gave me a big hug — and then, being the wise man he is, took himself off for a quiet minute to reset. We know each other well around here.

What the trip actually gave me

I work from home, which I love — but it means my connections with coworkers mostly happen through screens. A work trip changes that. We caught up in person. We had the deep, meandering conversations that never happen over the phone. The jokes that only land when you're all in the same room. The side commentary during a presentation that makes the whole thing more bearable.

My team is scattered geographically all over the country, and trips like this are how we maintain the bonds that make the day-to-day work easier. Trust gets built faster in person. It just does. And it carries — through every video call and Teams chats that follows.

The founding member of the early night club

Now, from a purely personal perspective: I am known — formally, among my colleagues — as the founding member of the early night club. It is rare, if not entirely unheard of, for me to be out past 9pm. Regardless of the time zone. I don't fight this about myself.

So the hotel evenings were mine. Room service dessert. A glass of wine. Pajamas on by 9pm and some deep hydrating facemasks.  Also whatever I wanted to watch on TV with absolutely no one asking for cartoons, snacks, or help finding a missing shoe. If you're a mother, you understand that a quiet, unclaimed hour of television is not a small thing. It's practically a spa day.

"A quiet, unclaimed hour of television is not a small thing. It's practically a spa day."

Take the silver linings, keep the gratitude

So yes — I'll take the silver linings, both personal and professional, and make the best of a long week. The connection with my team. The conversations that refill my tank. The dessert, the wine, and the early night. There is real good packed into those travel days if you're willing to look for it.

But I'm always grateful to get home. I miss my family just as much as they miss me, even when the trip is full of good things. And the dog did get to finish laying across my lap — all eighty pounds of him — so as far as homecomings go, this one was pretty perfect.