Traveling Dad: Work Trips, Dad Guilt, and Growth

Some dads live for the work trip. Some dads hate it. Most of us feel both at the exact same time. In this episode, John and Michael talk about the weird mix of freedom and guilt that hits the moment you close the hotel door. No bedtime. No monitor. No toys on the floor. And then out of nowhere you miss your kids more than you expected.

John shares his first extended trip away from the girls and what actually helped. Prepping food before leaving, setting clear expectations with Viv, and making daily FaceTime a nonnegotiable even if it is only five minutes. They get real about the moments that trigger resentment on both sides. The conference dinner photos while your spouse has poop on them. The missed souvenir. The sleep that is somehow worse even without a baby monitor because your dad brain is still listening for cries.

This episode is a practical guide for any dad who travels for work or needs a night away. How to communicate expectations before you go, how to show up from a distance, how to use tech like FaceTime and Marco Polo to stay present, and how to plan support so your partner is not carrying the whole load alone. If you have ever felt guilty for enjoying quiet time or frustrated that you cannot be in two places at once, you are not alone.

Here is what we cover

• Why the first hotel room exhale feels amazing and then immediately painful
• The baby monitor problem and when you actually stop using it
• How fast the missing them feeling hits and why FaceTime makes it harder and sweeter
• Setting expectations before you leave and why daily check ins matter even if they are short
• Practical prep that helps your spouse meals, snacks, breakfasts, and a simple support plan
• The community factor and why doing it alone is brutal and deserves respect
• What to do when you miss an expectation and your partner is frustrated
• How to respond without snapping and why seen, valued, and heard is the whole point
• Ways to help from afar DoorDash, surprises, and being proactive during nap windows
• Rapid fire alone time truths toilet time, sleep patterns, and the best part of being away

If you have ever searched

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Marco Polo app for family updates
how to stop resenting my spouse

This episode is for you.

Callouts

• If you travel a lot for work, message us. We want your best tips and we may feature them in a future episode
• If you have done deployments or long stretches away, we would love to learn from you on a future pod
• Join the Spit Up Society for weekly prompts, dad hacks, and community support