Being a father isn’t always easy but when it comes to your family, it’s no longer about you - it’s about how your actions and other factors affect everyone. When it comes to work, being a traveling dad can put a strain on the family unit, especially your kids. However, there is a way to make your work life and your home life complement each other.

Do you find yourself constantly on business trips, heading in and out of airports, and dealing with hotel after hotel? Then you’re one of many out there that are known as traveling dads. This lifestyle involves a lot of traveling, often at the last minute. While there is nothing wrong with this, such a hectic work schedule could have a negative impact on your family. The solution to being a dad on the go is communication between not only you and your spouse but your kids as well. The more informed they are about what you do and why you’re doing it, the less likely they are to harbor feelings of neglect, abandonment, and resentment.

Regardless of how old your kids are, realize that it is important to keep the lines of communication open with them at all times. Don’t simply use throwaway phrases such as, “I have to pay the bills.” When discussing the nature of your work with your children, take the time to sit down and talk with them. Explain why your job requires you to be gone so much and instead of telling them that you have to work to pay the bills, use specific examples they can relate to. For example, “if I didn’t work, then we wouldn’t have such a nice home to live in,” or “without my job, I couldn’t make the money we need to take our family vacations.” Putting things into perspective for your kids will help them better understand that you don’t want to be away from them so much but that sometimes sacrifices need to be made in order for them to enjoy the things they’ve come to love, such as their home, toys, clothes, etc.

Keeping your family in the loop will also help them know when to expect you to be away. Buy a wall calendar and mark the days when you know you’ll be traveling or working late at the office. By giving them an idea of what to expect, that will lessen the pressure on you when you go away. If you have to leave last-minute be sure to announce it to your family and give them as much detail as you have available (where you’re going, what the trip is for, when you think you’ll be back home). Don’t just keep the communication skills going at home - put this into practice while you’re away as well. Make it a point to call home at least once a day and don’t just talk to your spouse, set aside a few minutes to speak with each of your children and make sure the conversation extends past, “hey, how are you doing?” Tell them you love and miss them and can’t wait to be home.

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