I played hooky from a work conference to spend the day with my daughter. Our adventures were well worth the guilt.

The author (right) spent the whole day with her daughter instead of her work conference.

Courtesy of Cheryl Maguire

• I had a work conference in New York City, where my daughter lives.
• I decided to skip the first day of the conference to spend the day with my daughter.
• We explored the city, and the bonding time made the guilt of playing hooky worth it.

"Should I go to the first day of the conference or see my daughter?" I asked my group of fellow family travel...