As a husband and a father, I know that the time I spend at re:invent each year shifts my household duties onto my wife and children. I find it difficult to focus completely on the conference if I’m worried that I’ve created chaos on the home front. So, over the last several years, I’ve created a list of things I do before, during, and after the conference to make things easy on my family and to ease my mind to focus on re:invent.
re:Freshing
I make sure that, before I leave, the house is as clean and tidy as it can be. Some of the things I do:
- Every bit of laundry is washed, folded, and put away. This helps me too in that I have a full wardrobe to pick from when packing for the conference.
- Fresh linens on the bed - who doesn’t love sleeping in brand new bedding?
- The house is cleaned top to bottom (it helps that there’s a major holiday right beforehand)
Leave them pre:pared
So my family can have as stress-free of a week as possible, I always:
- Make sure they have meals pre-made. Bagels for breakfasts, pre-made dinners, and groceries to pack lunches. They don’t have to think about it while I’m gone.
- I organize the school pickup runs with friends.
- I make sure the cars are all gassed up before I leave town. My wife doesn’t have to scramble in the morning to plan a stop on the way to work. I also recommend hitting the car wash too.
- I put scheduled video calls home on the family calendar. Staying connected is important!
- We all have that one friend who would do anything to help - I have them on standby in case something big happens while I’m gone. Maybe it’s a flood, maybe it’s a clogged drain. Maybe a free falls down. Stuff happens - I make sure support is easy to engage.
Daily re:Veal
I’ve also found a great way to keep stress levels low at home is to plan daily treats and surprises for the family. Maybe you’re creative and want to try to making some sort of daily surprise to unwrap each morning?
- Throw $10 on the Starbucks gift card so my wife can grab her favorite drink on the way to work.
- Have lunch delivered for her at work one day. There’s a great deli just down the street from her office and they love helping out.
- Just so they don’t get tired of my cooking, I have dinner delivered one night while I’m gone.
- I shoot my older kids some Apple Cash so they can walk up to the corner restaurant and grab lunch.
- One year I had my wife’s best friend come steal her for a girl’s night mid-week.
- The occasional text to let everyone know you’re thinking of them never hurts.
re:Entry:
Coming home doesn’t have to be chaotic. It’s important to find time to reconnect with everyone after a week away.
- I plan to make breakfast, or have breakfast out, with the kids on Saturday so my wife can sleep in a bit.
- I plan a date for my wife and I that focuses on reconnecting. One year we took a massage class. One year we went to an art gallery opening. One year we went to a beer and chocolate tasting. I have plans to try a paint-and-wine night. I avoid things that bring a lot of chaos and distraction (shopping, movies, maybe even loud concerts).
re:Cap
Heading to re:Invent doesn't have to create chaos and stress for your family, and I hope some of these suggestions help you support your loved ones while you're traveling. If you have things you do to keep the home fires burning while you’re at re:Invent, I’d love to hear your ideas!
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