Business and Pleasure
When I was really young, my dad, who is a tire salesman, had a bunch of company conferences in Orlando, FL. Twice, my mother and I went with him. It was the first of my many times visiting Disney World, and I really enjoyed it (despite what this picture might make you think)!
When I attended the annual ASCLS conference in Anaheim, CA, in July, I wondered how many attendees brought their families -- no Disney for me this time, but maybe other kids (or kids at heart, like me!) got to experience all the fun activities in the Anaheim area.
In a recent New York Times article, the author discusses the need to combine business and family trips because of the economy. 
She points out this can work if the person sets boundaries -- no calling a colleague about work while in line for a ride with your kids, but remember when you need to separate from your family to do business-related tasks, too.
She also suggests getting the OK from your supervisor first. Extending your trip to spend more time with your family after the conference is over is another good idea.
As we here at ADVANCE are gearing up to attend the annual NSH conference in Seattle this month, we're wondering what you do when it comes to conferences?
Do you bring your family along? Why or why not? If you have, how did it work out? Share your experiences here!