In Her Words

I am going on vacation. It might not look that way: a ride in a cramped airplane seat, followed by a meeting that is likely to be unpleasant and long. However, to a person with small children whose every need must be met NOW (or you will HEAR about it, missy!), the business trip can become Mommy's Secret Time Out.

Now, don't get me wrong, long business trips are pretty much a pain in the ass all around. But a dayish trip, including a hotel with an appropriately fancy bedding package? That's a different story.

You will experience guilt feelings at first (you ARE a working mom, after all), but then, just as you're going through security, you see an adorable toddler ... throwing a spectacular tantrum ... and someone ELSE has to deal with it! It is at that point that you give a sympathetic, "I've been there, sister" look to the harried mother, cheerfully take off your shoes, and peer through the security gates for the nearest Starbucks.

You still have work to do, of course, but you also have time to indulge in a good gossip mag (just to take perverse pleasure in Gwyneth's dark roots), and take a LOOOONG, hot shower without fear of interruptions over superhero-related disputes, before relaxing in the (bedbug-free, let's hope) sparkling-white, duvet-covered bed before drifting off to a blissful slumber ...

Of course, it never works out exactly that way. In between the Us Weekly and the shower, it's the call home that always gets you. The "Mommy, when you come HOME...?" question, followed by the commotion easily identified as a family trying to steer the ship without the primary rudder (you) firmly in place.

You hang up, knowing that your value has been reaffirmed yet again. Digging into your overpriced room-service salad, you savor every bite, because you also know that THIS time out is the closest thing to a vacation you're going to get.

Candace Cavanaugh Buehner lives and works outside Detroit, MI, where her recent business trip to Minneapolis was the perfect time-out.