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My 17 month old does completely fine. I don't travel every month, but some months I have to travel multiple times, so since he has been around 9 months I think it's averaged out to once a month. I'm normally more the primary parent, so I think it's actually really good for him to have that more intensive time with DH, both for him and DH. Don't get me wrong, there's times it has created a lot of stress, like when LO has been sick and DH really couldn't miss work. And I hated it when I was still constantly needing to pump. But overall, especially as LO has gotten older, it's worked out relatively well and I think is definitely worth it if it means a job that you'll enjoy more overall or provides more income/stability/etc for your family.

I have been traveling more this year than I have previously and will have some trips coming up. My boys are 6.5 and 4. They do fine. They definitely miss me but they're usually distracted b/c my parents will pick them up from school or they'll get a special dinner with DH. The important part is for DH to keep them on the same schedule that they're used to (within reason) and then usually they're a little more clingy when I get back but they adjust really well. Usually I just keep talking about how mommy is going on a trip for a few days but we can talk on the phone or do facetime so we can still see each other each day. And then mommy will come back! I sort of stick with the "grown ups come back" from Daniel Tiger. I also have been known to bring a little gift for them when I get back and that helps too.

I travel sporadically (maybe 3-4x per year), but I had a bunch of travel stacked in May/June. I was gone for an entire week and then again for 3 nights. My girls are 6 and 3. DH keeps them on the same schedule and just tries to keep it as "normal" as possible. They do fine. I think it helps that we split a lot of stuff anyway, so there's not much that I always do and he never does (and thus has to pick up when I'm gone).

My LOs are 7 and 5 and for the past 5 years I've mostly worked at home, but have traveled occasionally.

My kids have no problems when I travel., unless I'm gone for more than a week (12 day international trip, etc). My parents help out when I 'm traveling and spoil my kids, and DH feeds them more pizza and chicken nuggets than usual, but otherwise their routine is kept consistent.

I love business trips. DH (and my kids) appreciate me a lot more when I'm gone a couple of nights. The trip itself can be exhausting (long day of meetings followed by a long dinner), but its also amazing to eat a hot breakfast someone else prepared for you while you relax and eat (not cut up someone's breakfast or try to get everyone dressed, fed, and out the door).

One thought on driving vs flying - I'd fly if at all possible. I understand it will likely take the same amount of time as driving, but driving can be exhausting, especially if you are sleep deprived (and the only driver). When you fly, you can rest on the plane/in the airport, which means you're not so exhausted when you return to your family or arrive for work.

I also travel on average 6 times a year for 2-6 days at a time. This year, I ended up with 2 week-long trips and one 3-day trip over 4 weeks in April-May, which was unusual, but it was fine. DH also travels for work on occasion, so it pretty much evens out between us. It was tougher when DD was little and I was breastfeeding, since I had to deal with pumping and milk storage/transport (and was the only silver lining to having a pretty bad oversupply issue, since I always had plenty stashed for when I was away). Now, the most stressful parts are 1) making DH’s travel doesn’t overlap with mine, and 2) lining up babysitters, since DH works certain evenings. Otherwise, we try to Skype most evenings and DD usually worms some extra treats out of DH when I’m gone, and it’s fine.

I actually disagree with Bluebonnet on driving vs. flying. If the drive is 5 hours or less, I’ll do that any day over dealing with airports and airlines. For that distance, I find flying doesn’t save any time in the end and I don’t get that tired driving but find flying pretty exhausting. I’ve also had so many cancelled or delayed flights that I prefer to be on my own timeline rather than theirs, especially for time-sensitive things. But I think that boils down to personal preference.

I travel for a week + a few times a week and also work weeks of 14 - 16 hour days with some frequency. It's had but at handle and Dh is amazing with the kids when I am away...