Does anyone here have kids & travel for work?

[anna7602]

I have had to travel for work so infrequently since striking out on my own that I still don't really have a system in place. In the U.S., I was able to work things out so I'd be gone for the least amount of time possible and then we'd do a combo of a paid babysitter until DH could get off work or use a family member. Here, I have absolutely no one. I can't even find a babysitter to go out on a date night, much less to let me get to the airport hours before DH would normally get home from work.

But, I have this amazing opportunity to go to Lisbon in mid-July for an event scheduled at 6:30pm on a Wednesday. Should I just ask DH to take a vacation day, fly out first thing and then come back that night or first thing the next morning? Should I take DD with me and try to make a mini-vacation out of it? (I do LOVE Lisbon.) Should the three of us go, even though DH and I have already been to Lisbon a couple of times and weren't planning to go again anytime soon?

I have been really honest with the event organizers about my childcare issues and they've been awesome about trying to work with me to make it happen. Is there something I haven't thought of?

[NomadicMama]

Will the event organizers locate a sitter for you to use in Lisbon? Is it difficult for your DH to take a vacation day? It's hard for my DH to get time off, so if I had a sitter that I could use in Lisbon, I would be inclined to take LO with me. But, I am not working outside the home, so take this advice for what it's worth! Good luck with your decision!

[clickerish]

I am paranoid, so I would hesitate to let my child (imaginary at this point) stay with a sitter I didn't know. However, it surprises me that you can't find someone for the day (as opposed to night, which is primetime).

I'd tend to make a day of it if the DH could, but I love Lisbon, and I sort of feel like your DH should be doing the accommodating for the schedule since you have to leave and all whereas he's actually there....