I think it's great that Miss E has been provided with such a variety of responses, but I have to say that IMHO there's a big difference between someone who has to travel for work - and who does so on a regular basis - and someone who doesn't normally, and so their absence will be quite a dramatic change not just for the OP but also for her DS.

It has also been pointed out that there isn't anyone who can come stay with her.

Some (not many) of the posts seem to have the attitude that the OP should just "suck it up" or that if she doesn't want her DH to go then she would be "not letting" him get this honour, and that seems a little unfair, TBH. Two grown adults in a happy and healthy relationship would hopefully be taking each others' happiness and comfort (and those of any children involved) into account when making a joint decision about this, and they would also be weighing up the pros and cons of the trip itself. Here, it's not suggested in any way that he would not receive the award by not going, just that he won't be there in person. And I'm guessing that there might be 30-120 seconds of the 5 day trip (plus travel) which is actually about him.

I was offered the opportunity to lead a work group on an overseas trip next year for 10 days in Asia - it's a work trip I've participated in three times, and it would be a really big deal for me to lead it next time. But it would involve me leaving my DH home alone with a 23 month old and an 8 week old. There is no way I would do that to my DH, or to my newborn. So I turned it down. When DH and I got together, he knew I planned on working hard on my career, that it may involve long hours and some weekends and very intense periods and probably the occasional trip to Sydney etc, but he did not buy in to me jetting off for 10 days to another continent where I couldn't get back reasonably quickly if needed. So I turned it down. I didn't want to, but it is the right choice for my family, and I do not regret my decision. But I plan to lead the work group in 2013, which DH fully supports.

If we could tune out the judgment from our responses to the OP's question, I think that would be lovely.

Most posts are just saying what they'd do and why, but a small number seem a little harsh and judgmental ...

[[on a less serious note, all that being said, it occurs to me that there's a simple solution: how about Amy_jellybean's DH pops over to stay with Miss E while the spouses are away?? ]]