The alarm clock started ringing at 4:00 AM. The plane was leaving at 6:30 AM. I struggled to turn off the alarm after a night of little rest. The evening before had been filled with pulling together my children’s homework and getting clothes ready for the next day. Once I finally got to bed, anxiety of missing the flight was no friend to the few hours left to sleep.
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I was ambitious and calculated. I could take the earliest morning flight, present at the meeting with the client, review the onsite operational needs, and catch the evening flight home. I would get home just in time to start again preparing for the next day. Out of town and back in town the same day was the plan.
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Fortunately, the airport was not busy that early in the morning and arriving at the boarding gate was a relief. After settling my bags and getting seated beside the other passengers, I was alert and ready to go. I was no different than any other passenger heading to the next destination; at least it seemed that way.
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My rule was always not to sleep on a plane. The goal was to stay alert, look in control, and be polite to the other passengers. Well, at least those were the best laid plans.
Shortly after the kind stewardess shared the rule of seat belts and emergency protocols, I started to have a sinking feeling inside. The quietness of the plane and the roar of the engine were like a lullaby. Before I knew it, I was sound asleep.
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About an hour and a half later, I was startled by the sound of the “fasten your seatbelt” notice. I raised my head up quickly and knew just what had happened. Horrified, I quickly gagged the expressions of the passengers sitting near me. Surely, I had not snored or left my mouth open to catch whatever might be drifting around in the cabin’s air. Trying to recapture my dignity, I straightened my suit jacket, used my hands to straighten my hair, and said not one word to anyone.
While still getting acclimated for the day, I lifted my bag down from the bin, hoping not to hit anyone’s head, and dragged the bag behind me down the narrow aisle as it caught on every other seat. If there was a dignified way to get off an airplane, I still needed to read the book.
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After studying the maze of signs for the arrow to the rental cars, I proceeded to navigate through the crowd. As I walked across the hard tile floor, I started to hear a tap. I might as well have been doing a tap dance down the hallway. Of course, in the dark of the early morning, I had selected the pair of shoes with the heel tap missing. I could only hope that the client’s meeting room was carpet.
Navigating around the corner I could see the long line for the rental car desk. That is never a good sign, as inventory can be low, and for me, an electric car was not an option. As luck would have it my prediction was right on track. The nice lady at the desk looked at me as if I had a sign on my head that said, “Please help”. I wanted to tell her my whole morning story. I wanted to confirm that I was not impaired; I just wanted a car. Fortunately, I refrained. As she checked her inventory she said, “Well, you know we are low on cars, but we do have a minivan. Can you drive a minivan?”
Could I drive a minivan? Yes! She was looking at a working mom, who without question could master the art of navigating the van. It was my lucky day. While it might not be an executive sedan, I would be driving up in my own kind of style.
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The story ends with a meeting presentation that met expectations and an uneventful flight home. I did not sleep on the flight home and maintained my dignity from one gate to the next. The boys’ homework and clothes were ready for the next day. Everyone was in bed on time.
The term “Supermom” has been around for a while. Sometimes, it just needs to be shaken off and waved proudly in the air. For those moms who travel by plane while keeping the world at home moving forward, you deserve to waive the “Supermom” flag! We are here to cheer you on!
What is your best business travel tip or story?​