teachermom

I empathize with this a lot, is the first thing I’ll say! But I’ve done a few trips without my daughter (who’s a bit over three now) and I’m getting better at being in the moment. My goal is always to be fully present when I’m with her, and then when I’m at work or traveling, to be fully present there and trying to really lean into all the reasons why that work or trip are important. I also remind myself that it’s actually a wonderful thing for my daughter to get special bonding time with just her dad for a few days, or her grandparents.

Last summer, when my daughter was two, I went on a week long writing retreat in the Hudson Valley. It was gorgeous and valuable and I felt so guilty being there, away from her for six days! The second day, consumed with missing her, I met another woman there who has a three and five year old at home. “I feel guilty being away from my daughter!” I told her. She said, “Oh my god, why?! It’s so good for them!! You get sick of them, they get sick of mom, everyone needs a re set sometimes. Stop feeling guilty this minute. It’s good you’re here.” She was so confident that I immediately felt better.