Balancing Frequent Work Travel and Family Life

Andrea Schmitt shares how a job that requires frequent travelling can be possible with kids

In episode #88 of Holding the Fort Abroad, we talk with Andrea Schmitt, clinical psychologist, expat coach, and founder of Global Girl Coach. Having experienced life as both an accompanying spouse and holding the fort parent, Andrea understands first-hand what it means to build family life around a partner’s travel-heavy career. Today, she supports expat teen girls and globally mobile families navigating identity, belonging, and the emotional ups and downs of international life.

Andrea shares what it was like to raise a child while her husband worked in the hotel industry and travelled frequently, sometimes away 50% of each month. 

Listen to the full episode HERE

Choose The Life You Have

One of the most powerful moments Andrea experienced is when her mindset shifted from feeling stuck to feeling like she was actively choosing her life.

The external circumstances didn’t change, the travel, the absences, the demands were still there. But reframing her situation helped reduce resentment and gave her control. She realised that while she couldn’t control her partner’s travel schedule, she could choose how she responded, how she built her life, and how she supported her family.

Try This
Ask yourself: Where do I still have choice in this situation?
Write down one area where you can take back control: socially, emotionally, or practically.

Create Small Connection Rituals

With frequent travel, connection required intention. Simple rituals — daily good morning or good night check-ins, even if brief — made all the difference. This is what their daughter still remembers now as an adult. 

Additionally, Andrea’s husband would always answer calls, even if only to say he would call back. That predictability helped maintain security.

Father and Daughter also created long-running storytelling rituals across time zones, helping maintain emotional presence even when physically apart.

Try This
Choose one small daily connection ritual you can realistically sustain

Maintain Attachment

Andrea was intentional about supporting her daughter’s bond with her travelling father.

She created photo albums showing her husband growing up, their shared memories, and photos of him with their daughter. This album would be travel size and their daughter would often pack it in her own suitcase when going somewhere. 

Andrea also regularly shared updates about daily life, school, and milestones when he was away. 

These small but consistent actions helped maintain emotional connection and familiarity, even across distance.

Try This
Create something tangible that keeps the travelling parent emotionally present — photos, voice messages, or shared memory rituals.

Unpredictable return dates and repeated goodbyes can create emotional stress for children. Consistency, predictability, and emotional availability are essential when one parent travels often. Understanding attachment patterns helps parents support long-term emotional security. 

Try This
Focus on predictable connection points your child can rely on, even when schedules change.

Offer Extra Emotional Support

Andrea highlights the importance of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), including emotional connection at home, feeling safe and supported, belonging in community settings, and having trusted non-parent adults. These experiences help build resilience during transitions.

Try This
Think about your child’s current support network. Do they have safe adults, friends, and places where they feel they belong?

Create Your Community

Andrea is very honest about the reality of expat and mobile life: community rarely appears without effort.

“You have to realize early on at some point nobody is gonna knock on your hotel room door and ask you to come out and play with them. Not happening. You have to repeatedly be vulnerable. Repeatedly”.

This is hard, but it is often essential for emotional wellbeing in globally mobile lifestyles.

Try This
Reach out to one community, group, or person this week, even if it feels uncomfortable.

Build Long-Term Connection

Small gestures matter, a quick call, a shared story, a small gift from a trip, or consistent check-ins all signal care and presence.

Over time, these small moments build strong emotional foundations.

Try This
Choose one tiny gesture you can repeat regularly to reinforce connection.

Whether you’re new to your journey or a seasoned “holder of the fort,” Andrea’s story will resonate, remind you that you’re not alone, and equip you with practical ways to support yourself and your family as you navigate life across borders.

Connect with Andrea Schmitt 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/globalgirlcoach/?hl=en

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-schmitt-lozano

Schedule 30 minute-discovery session https://www.globalgirlcoach.com/book-free-session

What more? Let’s get connected!

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