Set Boundaries

"Decide which trips are truly necessary, try to avoid travel on weekends (or conversely, try staying over a few days and having your family join you since airfares with a Saturday stay over are often less expensive), and try not to travel on important days like birthdays and anniversaries," states Barbara Glanz, author of Balancing Acts.

Keep In Touch

Stacy DeBroff, author of The Mom Book, suggests some ways to stay close to your children:

• Wrap a small treat for each day you will be gone. Hide the treats and give clues for a treasure hunt each day on the phone.
• Leave a photo of yourself for your child, or something special for her to "guard" for you, such as your pillow or pajamas.
• Give your child a joke or riddle to solve in the morning, and compare answers when you call her to say goodnight.
• Have her fax artwork or homework to you on the road.

Let Them Know They Are
Important While You're Away

Jerry Doyle said of a recent trip, "Before I left, I arranged to have a friend deliver a small gift to my wife for each day that I was gone. The first was a very simple flower arrangement and each passing day the gifts got a bit better. We joked that if I had stayed away long enough my wife would end up with a new car or something!"

Be There For Them When
You Return

Sometimes it's difficult to have time for your family and friends once you return because there is so much to do. Danielle Kennedy, author of Working Moms Dot Calm, declares "It's important to abolish slavery - your own! Don't feel like you need to do everything - teach the spouse and children to do tasks."

Make Them Feel Special

When you can't make it to a special event such as a recital, Glanz suggests asking for a special dress rehearsal before you leave. Kathy Doyle Thomas, executive vice president of Half Price Books says, "I have invited the grandparents, neighbors and special friends to attend the concert in my place. They just want to feel special at that event and I try to think of ways to make them feel important."

Dont Feel Guilty

Kennedy states, "A certain amount of guilt is good. It keeps you on track by sending up the red flag when you need to be there for something important."