Am I A Horrible Mother?????

[diznygirl]

That's one smart grandmother. She just snagged your kid for a whole week!!! My MIL would be impressed.

 

[hucifer]

WOW, I cannot believe the response I have gotten, and TONS AND TONS OF GREAT IDEAS AND SUPPORT...The things that I have read and thought about the most are: This will probably be the last time my DH and I can do this trip alone, (we are going in March and August next year), he isn't old enough to know what he is missing and he thinks my mom hung the moon so he would have just as fun with her, I can kind of get an idea of things for him to do for when we take him in March, and what really got me is the post about grandma won't always be around, so this will be his special time with her, I think that one got me the most...so true, I would give up every disney trip I ever took and the ones coming up, for one more week with my grandfather, he was my world and nothing could take the place of that special time...You guys have given me a lot to think about and made me feel so good about my decision...We are going alone, I also think the fact that I am already planning March's trip has made this decision not so hard, I had to switch gears in my head from taking DS to just my DH and I...I am now getting excited about it....thanks for all of the support you guys, I was shocked when I went to check this post and saw this much response....Thanks again guys, you give better advice than most of my friends...
Kristy

I am so happy to hear that you feel good about your decision! I too was overwhelmed by the responses you got. I thought most people gave very convincing reasons to go with DH alone.

HAVE FUN!!!

 

[Lizzybee]

Especially since you are planning trips in the fairly near future, it's not like your child will miss out. You said you're going a couple of times in 2006, by all means take this trip for the two of you, let grandma spoil your little one and ENJOY some blissful heavenly alone time with your DH!

 

[abacobaby]

I know this reply is quite late. I read your thread about possilbly leaving your DC with your mother for a week. Last night I came up with a cute idea. If you do decide to go by yourselves and leave your DC at home with his grandma, why don't you tell her to take lots and lots of photos (you could even make a small scrap book) of their week together. Make sure to tell her to get some pictures of the two of them together. When you get home you can put together a special photo album or scrap book for your DC of his week with Grandma. That way he will always have something special to remember his vacation with Grandma, which will become even more important as he gets older. Just a thought I had......

By the way, I would love someone to keep DD for me for a week. Don't get me wrong, I love her very much and love spending every day with her, but it would be so great to just spend one on one time with DH, sleep in late, stay up late (or go to bed early!) without worrying about waking DD up,....wow, the list goes on an on.....

Think of it as a second honeymoon!!!

 

[disneygirl1977k]

What a great idea.....Thanks so much, I will definately do that....awesome!!! Thanks again.
Kristy

 

[iluvdisnee]

I say go ahead and let him stay with Grandma! If you are pretty sure it will be financially feasable for you to take him when he's a bit older I think that the time for you and hubby would be one of the best things you could ever do for yourselves!!!

 

[boosmom96]

Kristy,
I'm really glad you decided to leave him with your mom. My mom sounds alot like yours, and when my DD was younger she spent many weekends and such with her grandparents. I left DD with my parents for the first time when she was 4 months old! I cannot begin to tell you how thankful I am that I let my parents have DD as much as I did!! My father passed away rather suddenly 18 months ago. My DD has so many wonderful memories of the special times she spent with her grandparents.
If I had to choose between seeing the joy on my DD's face at WDW or hearing her laugh when we talk about some of the goofy things her grandpa did, I'd take the laughter every time.
Have a great trip with your DH!!!!

p.s. My DH and I went to Disneyland alone when DD was about 2 and we had a fabulous time!!!

 

[Glendamax]

Leave your child at home. This may be one of the last trips you and your husband will have alone. I would be SOOOO excited if I had that option, AND your Mom is paying for preschool! I think it would be great!

 

[sarahj]

I'd go without your son. At 2 he won't remember alot of it. I'd go back with him in a few years when he can enjoy (and appreciate) it more! My best trip ever to Disney was the first time we took the kids (they were 8 and 11) and the second best trip was the first time my DH and I went without them (they are now 21 and 24!)

 

[KAMommy]

op, I know you have gotten a lot of advice, but let me share this...when my husband and I were going away for our 10th anniversary (the first time we had EVER been away more than just overnight), I was feeling very guilty. I mentioned this to my pastor and he said, "Go and don't feel guilty. The most important thing you can ever do for your kids is to make sure you stay madly in love with their father." Marriage and parenting is hard - if you have a chance to take a break, so that you can come back in love and refreshed - I say take the opportunity!

 

[Zoemakes5]

Oh, the guilt that we place on ourself as parents!!! When my boys were little, both my DH and I were still in law school and on occasion had night classes. Those semesters when we did have night classes on the same nights, my mom and step-dad would watch the kids, sometimes at our house, sometimes at their's. I felt so guilty not when neither one of us was there to tuck them in and give them kisses goodnight. Recently, years later, the boys and I were talking at dinner, and they were "reminicing" about how fun it was to have their "special nights" with grammy and grampy and were wondering if I was going to take any classes anytime soon!
The moral of the story is that here was something I had terrible guilt about that the kids were thinking of as a grand adventure having fun with their grandparents!!!
At 2, your child will not know the difference, probably have a great time with the grandparents, and you never know when the next time they'll offer will be if you don't take them up on it now. Plus, the next time, your child WILL be older, and may understand what they're missing and it might be a much harder break.
Good luck with whatever you do!!! Edited: I see you came to the decision that I was suggesting, it sounds like. I hope you have a lot of fun with DH. We went without any kids for our honeymoon, and I loved it! Have a great time in March w/your little one, too!

 

[gradtchr]

I hope you enjoy your trip with your DH. I don't think you are a horrible mother at all, just enjoy and think of it as a scouting expeditions. You're scouting out what to show your DS next time you go with him. I agree with several here that a week with his grandmother is great and will be treasured as he gets older if you have a scrapbook and pictures and the such.

 

[jpmom]

Take your little one. You will look around at all the children with their wide eyes and smiles and kick yourself for not taking him.

Your mom will surely make the same offer again. Plan a romantic weekend trip somewhere for the two of you for early 2006.

You won't regret not taking your little one. And as far as naps and all that are concerned, we always had our nap in the stroller. It worked great. We would get our boys to sleep after lunch and then park the stroller and sit and people watch for the duration of the nap. Plan to take him to nice dinners -- just bring lots of toys for him to play with.

We couldn't imagine going without our boys. Our oldest was 15 months for his first trip and has been 10 times since.

Have a great trip!

 

[beattyfamily]

I took both my DDs at age 2 and they certainly knew they were at Disney and LOVED it and had a blast. Age two was actually a great age for Disney. Everything is still so magical and they just go with the flow and they can talk and walk.

Just wanted to share my experience taking 2 year olds. I loved age 2 at Disney!

Good luck deciding!