I’m fortunate that in my line of work, I get to travel. I work out of our company’s Melbourne office a few days a month and visit a client of ours in Sydney every quarter.
The Melbourne Tram in front of our building
I’m thankful for the opportunity as my monthly trips allow me a few days of independence to experience living on my own. I missed out on that, you see.
In the Philippines where I grew up, it’s not really common for adult children to move out of their parents’ home unless they marry (and sometimes even after marrying, they still don’t move out!) or unless their family home is too far to travel to and from their place of work/school.
So yes, Melbourne (and generally any travel I do for work) is my time out where I get to do what I want on my schedule without considering other people’s needs.
This “independence” is not the only perk of the job. You know that expression “The grass is greener on the other side”?
Well, I get to cross over the fence once a month. And for a week, I get to experience what it’s like on the other side. I get to experience the “me” time that I think all parents should have from time to time.
After each cross-over, I come home to my little family giddy, as if it’s a grand homecoming of sorts. Every trip back to NZ, I’m a little more grateful, a little more appreciative of what I have. I come home to MrG and Bea thanking my lucky stars that my week on my own is temporary.
Me scouring the streets of Melbourne CBD for a place to eat
And for me, having a job or career that allows me to feel a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, to carve a niche for myself, a job that allows me to define myself outside my role of mum and wife and one that allows me that time for myself are definite perks.
The mother of all perks, though, that my travels away from home bring me is a constant reminder to never take for granted what I have, that the grass is not greener on the other side…
And that constant reminder is what I call a blessing.
A deliverance from a life of what ifs. It’s definitely not green on the other side.
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I just read this! Coincidentally, I just added a blog post re: “Leaving Kids Behind When Traveling for Work”. You’re right – the independence is nice, and coming back home as if it were a cool reunion is heartwarming each time. Thanks for sharing! http://ahapedia.com/blog/2010/01/23/leaving-kids-behind-when-traveling-for-work/
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