Open post of the week - kids, travel and quality time

Welcome to open post of the week where I tell you what’s on my mind (OMM), we show you what’s been going on in the MM office and we finish off by asking you to leave a comment about…..ANYTHING.

Instead of doing my usual bits and pieces post, there was one particular story that caught my eye that’s OMM. So here it is: Today I have to go on a business trip to Melbourne and I’ve been thinking all week about taking one of my kids with me. Turns out it’s not going to be possible – there are no spare seats on my flight – so I’m a bit bummed. And so is said child.

Over the past couple of years I’ve started doing quite a few interstate trips. Never long. Only a night here or there. And I’ve come to really enjoy them. I love having that zone-out time where I’m responsible for nobody but myself.

I may also possibly enjoy airport shopping but that’s a confession for another time.

This time though, I really warmed to the idea of taking one of my kids. Partly for them, partly for me. Some one-on-one time. A bit of a shared adventure.

When you work outside the home (aside: the term ‘working mother’ has become so fraught, hasn’t it? As Angela Mollard points out, there is no such thing as a non-working mother, it’s just a matter of where you work and whether you get paid for it), time with your kids is at a premium. For both of you.

So much of what I miss out on is that quantity time. The incidental stuff of life like going to the supermarket together or running around doing errands. That’s why travelling on a short trip – with a child old enough to be a bit independent – can be excellent.

South Australian education minister Grace Portolesi must have had the same thought. Because she tried to take her 7 year old daughter with her on a recent official trip to India. And all hell has broken loose this week. According to Adelaide Now:

Education Minister Grace Portolesi exceeded her annual allowance to buy a $7000 business-class ticket for her daughter to accompany her on an official visit to India.

The Opposition stepped up its attack on the Government over the taxpayer-funded trip yesterday, saying despite Ms Portolesi gaining special permission to take her daughter, 7, on the trip, the cost was $1000 more than the annual amount allocated for spousal travel.

Travel entitlement rules stipulate that the annual parliamentary travel allowance for MPs is $12,000, and a maximum of half of that can be used for spouses accompanying members.

Airfares for Ms Portolesi and her daughter to travel business class to India in April and May cost $7000 each.

The recently promoted minister said she was allowed under parliamentary rules to take one family member on an overseas trip once a year. It was revealed yesterday that Ms Portolesi had received special dispensation from Speaker Lyn Breuer to take her daughter in place of her spouse.

Is this such a big deal? I can’t imagine the hours required of a state or federal MP. They are surely horrendous. Some would say they are totally incompatible with family life. Is it any wonder more women aren’t marching towards careers in politics?

I once read an interview with Westpac CEO Gail Kelly – the mother of triplets – who said she took one child with her whenever she went on a business trip as a way to have some individual quantitiy time with them (my words not hers). I thought at the time this was tremendously clever. Still do. And I’m sure it has subconsciously influenced me to do the same when it’s possible.

If you’ve ever met a 7 year old, you’d know that taking that trip alone would have been far easier, more restful for Grace Portolesi. But she wanted to take her daughter along, perhaps to make up for some of the hours of her life she’s missed due to the extreme demands of her job.

And I, for one, applaud her for it.

As always, check out our gallery of what we’ve been up to around the office:

How has your week been? What’s on your mind?