HARMONIZING THE JOURNEY: BALANCING WORK TRAVEL, PARTNERSHIP, AND FAMILY LIFE

By Machell Hoover, RDH, FAAOSH, CHC

Balancing work, travel, family, and a committed partnership has proven to be an adventure filled with challenges, growth, and immeasurable rewards. Embracing this lifestyle, for those of us who choose to discover it is a journey that requires love, resilience, and an unwavering dedication to our personal and professional lives. With God’s guidance and the support of a strong partner, this path can transform from a series of tasks into a profoundly fulfilling and purposeful way of life.

THE DUALITIES OF WORK-RELATED TRAVEL

Work-related travel isn’t just part of the job; it’s a lifestyle. It demands sacrifice but also offers growth opportunities, both professionally and personally. Before traveling for work, I didn’t fully understand the emotional toll or the profound fulfillment it could bring. Missing out on family dinners, bedtime prayers, and daily routines is difficult, but each return home becomes a celebration of love and connection.

This lifestyle has taught me to cherish the time I spend with my family and to find joy in the small but significant moments that unite us. It has also deepened my gratitude for my husband’s strength and support in navigating this journey.

FROM INDEPENDENCE TO PARTNERSHIP

I was fiercely independent before I was introduced to my husband. As many of us are now, I was a single mother carrying the full weight of life’s many responsibilities on my shoulders. By my mid-forties, my independence

had become a source of pride and a testament to my resilience. However, when I met my husband, everything changed. For the first time, I experienced a love that allowed me to relinquish some of that weight. Trusting someone enough to share life’s responsibilities wasn’t easy; it required time, patience, and vulnerability. Yet, in trusting him, I discovered a new kind of strength rooted in partnership.

I remain proud of what I accomplished alone, but with my husband’s love and wisdom, particularly in business, I’ve found even greater success and purpose. Together, we approach life as a team, turning what was once a solo endeavor into a shared journey. The rewards are more remarkable because they are experienced together, and the challenges feel lighter because they are shouldered side by side. By allowing these blessings, this partnership has profoundly influenced our family dynamic, which has statistically shown to be more challenging within blended family homes. Still, they also demonstrate that, despite the pain of a previous divorce, we can discover beauty in working together, building trust, and fostering mutual respect.

BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS IN THE FACE OF DISTANCE

Travel often means temporary separation of family routine, but if strategically and compassionately done, it’s only the physical part of the separation that cannot be navigated. Travel can, in fact, strengthen bonds and our experience in unique ways. My husband and I prioritize our connection, even when we are apart. Daily communication begins with morning calls and texts during the day and ends the night with connection, whether a call or a text message. We work to ensure our first and last connection is with the one that holds our heart. This keeps us close, and where it may seem small, these intentional acts remind us that our marriage is the foundation of our family.

Our partnership thrives because we intentionally keep our relationship at the forefront. This statement may ruffle some feathers, but given our Christian beliefs, we strive to ensure our children are deeply loved; they understand the importance of a strong, healthy marriage and one that requires the spouse to come second only to God. This clarity provides stability and teaches them the value of nurturing their relationships with their future partners. I once believed that putting children first was my most important priority, seeing it as essential. However, after meeting a partner who shares my values, I now realize that prioritizing our relationship enables us to love and support others even more profoundly. Becoming a united front empowers us to care for those around us with greater effectiveness. This journey isn’t instantaneous; it unfolds gradually. Our growth in faith as a couple has been a deliberate process, one that intertwines our core beliefs and embraces the power of grace. We are committed to evolving as individuals and as partners, striving to become the best versions of ourselves together. Each step we take reinforces our bond and deepens our understanding of one another.

CHALLENGES AND GRATITUDE

The undeniable challenges of work-related travel cannot be ignored. Missing meals, shared laughter, and those quiet, ordinary moments can be painful. Yet, these sacrifices are met with even more gratitude for the sense of purpose work brings and the perspective it offers on what truly matters. At home, family meals are a sacred tradition of connection where we share stories, laughter, gratitude, and struggles for that day. Traveling means we miss these times, and on longer trips, this is met with deep sadness but also with the comfort and excitement that they will resume with greater intention when returning home.

MODELING RESILIENCE AND PASSION FOR OUR CHILDREN

Children are incredibly perceptive; they absorb not only our words but also our actions. By tackling the many challenges of work-related travel with a sense of resilience and gratitude, we prioritize core values of perseverance and purpose for our children. They observe a biological and a stepparent who cherishes their faith, family, and career, understanding the significance of balancing these essential priorities. My husband, as a Christian leader, exemplifies these values wonderfully. His dedication to our faith, our family, and his work inspires me, and even if his children do not know now, they will also be filled with gratitude as they become parents one day. He is an example of approaching life with integrity, passion, and grace.

By tackling challenges and supporting one another’s endeavors, we show our children that strength comes from independence and partnership. They see that life’s hurdles are opportunities for growth and that love and collaboration can create something far greater than the sum of its parts. This is even more important given we are a blended family. Being a child of divorce, I know the insecurity that comes from separation and the lack of trust in long-term success is even more difficult to believe in. Divorce is not the desired outcome, yet half of American homes face it. Building strength and trust between my husband and I, and creating an environment where our children can learn to believe in the joys of relationship through resilience, love, and grace is something we take very seriously.

THE JOY OF BLENDED AND BLESSED FAMILY LIFE

In a blended family, love must be intentional and abundant. Our children see two parents who prioritize their relationship and are committed to raising them with love, faith, and purpose. This dynamic requires effort, but it is enriching.

Living our values teaches our children what a healthy marriage and family look like. They witness our love for them and our love and respect for one another. Our family functions as a cohesive unit, collaborating to tackle life’s challenges while cherishing its joyful moments.

CELEBRATING THE JOURNEY

Balancing work, travel, relationships, and family life has its fair share of challenges, but the rewards are immense. It demands purpose, perseverance, and a strong dedication to our loved ones and core values. Amidst the ups and downs, we discover joy in the journey, cherishing the combination of career and family as a wonderful blessing.

This path has taught me that independence and partnership are not mutually exclusive but complementary. I have remained the strong and independent person I’ve always been, but now I’m part of a team that helps make every challenge easier to face and every success even more significant.

With God’s guidance, my husband’s unwavering support, and the love of our family, we navigate this journey with grace and gratitude. We celebrate the blessings of work, travel, and family life together, knowing that the joy and fulfillment we find in this balance are worth every effort.

About the author:

Machell Hudson-Hoover, FAAOSH, CHC, blends her deep clinical knowledge with heartfelt compassion in her contributions to overall wellness through clinical experience, speaking, and consulting. With nearly two decades in integrative hygiene, she is devoted to educating and mentoring dental professionals, enhancing patient care by bridging dental and medical disciplines. Her recognition as the DrBicuspid’s Most Influential Hygiene Educator for 2021 is a testament to her authority in the field. Machell is a respected international speaker and a leading authority on Oral Systemic Connections. Her compassionate approach is evident in her service on the boards of the American Academy for Oral & Systemic Health and RDH Magazine, where she influences integrative dental care practices. For professional guidance in the field of integrative hygiene and oral systemic connections, contact Machell at machell@ rdhhealth.com.