Both parents business trip - WWYD?

[nutsnutspistachionuts]

DH and I work together and for the first time ever a client has requested we visit them together… in the USA. This is a really important, interesting, fun, potentially career defining project. It would be just 2-3 days of meetings/lunches/research, possibly not even on consecutive days.

But we have a 7yo - what would you do?

DH thinks we should go together for the shortest possible trip and get my mum to look after DS at home. She would do, and she is great. But I can’t get my head comfortable with us both being out of the country at the same time! But the other options are take DS and a 3rd adult with us (very expensive - school hols, extra flights, hotel!!) or DH and I just go separately (less good work-wise). I suppose we could go together but attend meetings separately, like one day on, one day off? Also that’s less good work wise than being there together. Are there any other options? Can you hire a nanny for three days?!?

We hardly ever travel abroad these days and I’m aware this is very fortunate. Our flights would be paid but that’s it. We have friends we could stay with as a couple but they don’t have room for a kid. 7yo would love to go to America fwiw. It’s California so family-friendly apart from the work…

You could both die in a car crash (greater odds)

I'm the same age as your mum

Go.

I’d leave him with your mum, they’ll both be fine!

However to answer your nanny question (I’m in the US and a childcare provider) it’s pretty common to see people advertising for short term help in cities where mom or dad has business and having someone do daytimes at the hotel. If you’re paying, they’ll probably also provide entertainment!

If you were thinking of doing that, I’d try and find a local agency.

Ridiculous to take him. You’d drag him onto a long flight to a place he doesn’t know, and then leave him for your meetings anyway. Then drag him back in a relatively short time. He’d be exhausted.
You won’t be able to focus on business which wouldn’t bring out the best in you. I can’t see any positives to taking him.

Plane crash, while highly unlikely, would always be my "What if" - I think leave ds with your mum but travel separately.

You'd leave him with a random hired nanny in CA, but not safely at home with Grandma?

I’d leave him with your Mum and focus on the business trip.

But, just to be on the paranoid side, do ensure that your paperwork is in order in case anything happened- ensure that you have a guardian (s) designated for your child in writing, for example.

Myself and DH did it many times re: business.

Our (now adult) child was not upset. He looks back on the times he was "dumped" with grandparents very fondly 😂.

Seriously you are over reacting to a highly unlikely probability.

Statistically you should be more worried about you and your husband getting in a car without him.

My parents traveled overseas without us quite a few times.

50-plus years ago, in the 1970s. No instant communication like today. My 70-something grandparents watched us (both of us well under 10).

It was fine.

Let your mom have him.