Missed it. Hotel room coffee with powdered creamer.
Half a bagel with cream cheese. String cheese. Blueberries. Carrots. A wedge of Laughing Cow cheese. Hummus.
Salad buffet. Lentil soup. Chicken stir fry. Whiskey. Second dinner (1am): Half a bagel with swiss cheese, avocado, and salami, loaded with Sriracha.
Spent the EARLY morning hours (between 12-3am) wrapping up a hotel debacle. We landed in Charlotte, NC just before midnight and discovered all outgoing flights had been cancelled due to bees, coyotes, and a fire at the airport (no joke!). We were sent to a nearby hotel by the airlines, where a Lord of the Flies-esque scene in the hotel lobby ensued over the few remaining rooms. We were one of the lucky ones, and scored a room. We wake up at 11am, needing to get to Floyd, VA where my husband's band The Lumineers were booked to play. There were no reasonable flights available, so we waited for the band bus to drive back and scoop us up. We soon got word that our friends band was also stranded in Charlotte, so we picked up Langhorne Slim and the Law, and bee-lined to the festival so they would make their set. During the bus ride I followed up with a few recently placed nannies, and answered e-mails from potential clients. I realize most people would consider 3pm the afternoon, not the morning. But hey, I'm married to a musician.
We arrive at the festival just in time for our friends to make their 5:30 set. I sit side stage for this, and Gogol Bordello's set, ducking out here and there to answer e-mails and return calls. I still love being at shows, and I'm figuring out ways to work while enjoying them. Since Wes' band became successful, its been a challenge finding balance between growing my business and juggling the craziness of our traveling lives. I wrap up the side stage emails, and take in the view of the wise old Blue Ridge Mountains.
During Wes' 10pm set, I hang side stage with a bunch of the children from other bands at the festival. This particular group of kids proceed to blow me away with their intelligence and understanding of the music business and the world in general. I end up talking with them long after the set is over. I have worked with several ever-traveling families over the years, and its incredible how easily some kids adjust to their environment. Being on the road with a family may not seem ideal, but normal's what you're used to. We say "good bye" to the kids and their families, then hangout for a few hours until the bus leaves for Maryland at 3am.
1. Whats up with your business Adventure Nannies?
I worked as a free-lance vacation nanny for several years, and decided to build an agency after becoming overbooked and needing to send out replacements. Adventure Nannies places traveling families with traveling nannies, and also specializes in long term placements. We find nannies with dynamic skill sets or "superpowers" as we like to call them, and match them with the needs of each family. Nanny superpowers include; language Skills, experience with children with special needs, medical training, teaching experience, and location expertise. Most of our nannies have more than one Superpower.
2. You talk about finding a balance between building your own business and traveling with your husband. What's advice can you give on supporting your significant other while still focusing on your own success?
That is a great question! Finding balance is challenging, and I can't say that I've mastered it. I'm a nurturer by nature, so focusing on my own success is more difficult for me then supporting my husband. I can easily slip into feeling like a tag-along while touring with him if I'm not focusing on my own business. These days, I try to make sure my own needs are met, because I can't give what I don't have, and nobody will fight for my success like I will. Learning to speak up and defend these needs is a process for me, but I'm slowly getting better with it. I keep this quote on hand to remind me of what it's all about - "The real desk isn’t one with four legs and a filing cabinet, it’s the space of time that you stake out every day, and the will with which you defend it." - Josh Ritter
3. Bees, coyotes, and fires? You've experienced it all! What's your three expert tips when it comes to traveling with the kiddos?
1) Roll with it. Be prepared to make a plan and completely disregard it as situations arise. Usually things turn out better than you planned by going with the flow and being open to change. 2) Be prepared and be creative. Try to simplify the packing process as much as possible. The most items I pack when traveling with kids are in the first-aid kit. For the rest of it, like toys, clothes, and activities, be creative and keep things as simplified as possible. Pack way less clothes for yourself and kids then you think you need, but bring enough clean underwear for a fresh pair each day. Nobody knows or cares if you wore the same thing yesterday when you're traveling, and if you don't think it's a big deal, eventually the kids won't either. Eliminating the task of lugging so much stuff around is a big part of what makes traveling with kids easier. I've noticed that while they may complain about missing their toys, i-pods, and comforts of home during the trip, they only talk about the fun parts afterword. 3) Stay positive. Kids pick up so many cues from the people they're traveling with, especially the people in charge. If you're stressed, afraid, or frustrated, they will feel it and adopt your attitude. A good attitude goes a long way, and the first person to look at when tensions get high is yourself.
Brandy lives in Denver where she founded the the premier travel nanny service, Adventure Nannies with her partner Holly Bammert. She spends the year traveling for work and with her husband's band, The Lumineers. adventurenannies.com thelumineers.com
