So ... I travel for work (interstate and overseas) periodically. Usually only 2-4 days at a time, 4-6 times a year. Every couple of years there's a longer one (8-10 days).

I have been tossing up whether to put my name forward for an opportunity within the organisation for next year, which will mean being away for 10 days. It's a long time, but no longer than I've done twice before - but obviously not with my DSs as old as they are now.

It's a CSR role at a Not For Profit that I love doing though, and have done twice before with the team, and which I actually went with my DH back to do a voluntary 6 week stint one summer with both of us working (pre babies - while I was pregnant, actually).

That being said, I was leaning towards not putting my name forward (which would surprise but not put out my boss) because I'd really rather go when I take take my family with me - which won't be for another year or more.

But then I learned that a high profile industry specific group I'm a member of is actually having their annual international conference in the city where the trip is, and is only a week before the trip ...

This conference is usually in far flung places (Dubai, London, New York) at really inopportune times for me with work. It's not due to be back in Oz for years. Realistically, this is my only chance any time soon to go to the conference.

But it would mean being away for about 3 weeks - the conference, a week in the middle (during which the organisation we're doing the CSR work at would happily have me), the CSR trip itself, and travel there and back.

That's a really long time for me. More than double what I've done before, and five times the length of what I've had to do in one go over the past year.

DH and I have spoken seriously about him and the boys coming with me. We would stay together, I'd duck out during the says for the conference, we'd stay and work together at the NFP together, and he would either fly home at the start or the end of the work CSR trip. We've decided that won't really work - he'd effectively be sole parenting it for an awful lot of it, and one of us would have to be minding the boys all the time - halving the amount of work we'd actually be able to do for the NFP. And it would cost thousands of dollars in airfares, insurance and accommodation. As much as we want to go back together, we want to be productive, we want to be able to enjoy and share it with the boys.

I've being weighing up the pros and cons ...

They're both things that I'd really like to do.

The NFP is one I really love. I love working with and for them, I love seeing how some blood sweat (nurons) and tears can make a huge difference, and how my particular skills can be used in such a great way with people who dedicate themselves to the lives of others.

The conference would be great for my career. It's so much more than what's available here in Oz, and it raises my personal profile with key people in my industry here, as well as overseas.

But it's a long time. Three weeks is a long time. I can skype, I can facetime, I can send special messages, I can organise extra playdates with the family and friends, but none of that is special mummy cuddles and books in bed and bathtime together. I know I *can* do it, but I'm not sure if I want to - for them or for me. Part of me knows that I'll be on a plane, then I'll blink, and the I'll be back on a plane going home, but with some incredible memories and some great new knowledge and contacts. And that if I was at home, I'd be going to work at the crack of dawn, coming home at night, and all very same old, same old. But then the other part of me wonders about all the things - the normal every day things - that will be going on at home without me.

DH says I should go for it. He knows it's a great opportunity. He knows it will be rough without me (particularly in that third week - for himself as much as for the boys) but he supports it.

I'm the one dragging my heels ... and I only have until Friday to decide.

I was confiding in a friend this morning, and she accused me of "trying to make excuses to go" as if I just want to justify my choice to go. I was really upset at her saying that. So please, no comments like that.

What would your thought process be?

Have you had to make a choice like this? Or has your DH?