Am I crazy?

[hinodis]

DH and I are taking a vacation without the kids. We are leaving in 6 weeks and I am starting to feel very uneasy about leaving the kids for so long. This is only the second time we have left for mor then 2 days and it is by far the longest vacation we have EVER taken without kids. OK I will admit its only one kid, the other 2 live at college. DD12 will be here with DS's fiance who is 21. My stomach is in knots everytime I think about how long I am going to be gone. Last time we left, the oven caught on fire and we had a blizzard here and the oven repair man would not come for 2 days. They lived through it. Of course, the boys also "lost" their sister one night when she went to her friends house and the friends mom took them to the girl's dad's house and they had no clue that DD had left the mom's and had no phone number. I was on vacation in a complete panic calling airlines and wanting to go home

 

[AKL_Megs]

FWIW, I was 12 when MY parents left me to go on a solo vacation for the first time. I remember not talking to them for the whole week! I had the time of my life (and I am sure they did too ) and all I remember was being just so excited to see them after the week was up! We had fun exchanging stories!

 

[golfgal]

Well, since you asked, yes. I can't imagine not having gone on vacations with just my DH for so many years. The kids will be fine and you will have a great time if you let yourself.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, you are crazy.

We are also planning a trip for us without the kids. Granted my 13yodd will be in a scholar program living in the dorm for 3 weeks and my oldest might be in China.

Is that crazy?

 

[momof5boys]

Nope you're not! My DH and I are going on a 7 day cruise. Hopefully the oldest ones can keep from blowing up the house! The youngest will be shuttled around my parents and sister(oldest son is too bossy, won't let him watch youngest) We have done this before but only for a few days! Have a great vacation!

 

[RadioNate]

I'm going to go with crazy. I wouldn't have...but you are talking about college aged kids and a 12 year old. Had you said toddlers and elementary aged children I would have went with not crazy. Couple the age of the kids and that the trip is 6 weeks away and sorry OP...your treading into crazy.

How long are you going to be gone?

 

[hinodis]

We will be gone for 10 days. I think part of the problem is the fact that we got a call last week at 1am. DS had gotten in a car accident. He had driven across the state to see some girl and hit an ice strom on his way back to campus. A car side swiped him and they both went in a ditch. He called from the tow truck place and said can you come get me and take me back to school? I kept thinking what if this happened and I was in Florida My DD is such a Mommy's girl, she does not want me to leave her for so long but I know she will be fine. I think it is the what ifs.........?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We will be gone for 10 days. I think part of the problem is the fact that we got a call last week at 1am. DS had gotten in a car accident. He had driven across the state to see some girl and hit an ice strom on his way back to campus. A car side swiped him and they both went in a ditch. He called from the tow truck place and said can you come get me and take me back to school? I kept thinking what if this happened and I was in Florida My DD is such a Mommy's girl, she does not want me to leave her for so long but I know she will be fine. I think it is the what ifs.........?

Here is how I combat the "what ifs".....

If something happens, I will deal with it then. We are a walking "Murphy's Law" and what ifs are part of our life.

If I lived my life based on what ifs we would never leave the house.

 

[mjkacmom]

The problem is you waited too long! I've been leaving the kids since dd13 was a baby, and I still get giddy. For me, to go from caring for 5 kids, to total freedom, is amazing! The youngest are 7, so not hard, but when they were all little, it was liberating (my parents live in town, and see my kids daily, so I'm never worried about them when we're gone). Do not worry! It is a benefit to your children when they learn that they can be away from you, and still be okay.

 

[hinodis]

Here is how I combat the "what ifs".....

If something happens, I will deal with it then. We are a walking "Murphy's Law" and what ifs are part of our life.

If I lived my life based on what ifs we would never leave the house.

Excellent point. Thank you

 

[golfgal]

We will be gone for 10 days. I think part of the problem is the fact that we got a call last week at 1am. DS had gotten in a car accident. He had driven across the state to see some girl and hit an ice strom on his way back to campus. A car side swiped him and they both went in a ditch. He called from the tow truck place and said can you come get me and take me back to school? I kept thinking what if this happened and I was in Florida My DD is such a Mommy's girl, she does not want me to leave her for so long but I know she will be fine. I think it is the what ifs.........?

Well, stop thinking about the what if's. Your son may not have been able to reach you when he had that accident even if you were in town-phones down, his phone was dead, etc. Hopefully he would have been smart enough to call someone else if he couldn't have gotten a hold of you, right? Your DD, if she is that clingy at 12, it will do her some good to figure out that she can do things without you. She will have fun with the "big sister". When we go out of town we let grandparents or some friends know that the kids will be home with whom ever and can they call them if they need help. Grandma will be coming to stay with our twins in a few weeks and we will ask the neighbors if we can leave their phone number if Grandma needs it. She is perfectly capable of taking care of the kids, house, etc. but she isn't all that familiar with our town so if the electricity goes out or something she can check with the neighbors.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Excellent point. Thank you

Believe me, it is not easy. I am going to be sending my 13yodd away to a college university to stay in a DORM for 3 weeks!

This is a kid who has anxiety issues. However not allowing her to grow where she needs to does not help her.

It is called taking a leap of faith. The more she reaches out and has success the more confident she is getting.

The older one is a freshman in college and is trying to get into a program in the geology dept and go to China. She was born with a heart defect. While she is fine, she still can have issues from time to time.

I have to trust that she is going to be OK. And oh....scary about the accident. I worry all the time about her driving to and from school, which is a 2hr trip.

So I hear you.

 

[golfgal]

The problem is you waited too long! I've been leaving the kids since dd13 was a baby, and I still get giddy. For me, to go from caring for 5 kids, to total freedom, is amazing! The youngest are 7, so not hard, but when they were all little, it was liberating (my parents live in town, and see my kids daily, so I'm never worried about them when we're gone). Do not worry! It is a benefit to your children when they learn that they can be away from you, and still be okay.

Ok, off topic, you need to update your signature--it still shows your twins as 5 .

 

[Heidict]

Go, enjoy yourselves. Your DH and yourself deserve and need time for just each other. You can be a perfect, wonderful and selfless mother the other 51 weeks this year. You at least deserve one week for yourself.

You are going to worry. It's human nature to do that. Just be sure that your DS is being left in the care of someone whom you totally trust and that should help. Make sure they have all the phone numbers, medical release forms and money for emergencies in case any should arise.

My Dh and I have been taking vacations, just the two of us, since our DD was a year old. They have lasted anywhere from 10 days to a few days and she is always left in the care of one her grandparents. She loves these times and gets spoiled non stop and doesn't even care that we are not there. As a matter of fact, there have been times when she is to busy having fun and doesn't even want to talk to us when we call.

We are leaving for a weeks vacation in 5 weeks and I know that she will have a blast as will we.

 

[hinodis]

I told DH how worried I am and he said, "I think we need to add an extra day on to our vacation" We are celebrating my one year NO cancer anniversary, we planned this when I was really sick as it was something to look forward to when I got better.

 

[Trish Bessette]

I told DH how worried I am and he said, "I think we need to add an extra day on to our vacation" We are celebrating my one year NO cancer anniversary, we planned this when I was really sick as it was something to look forward to when I got better.

YOU SO DESERVE THIS!!!! Go and have a wonderful time. Everyone at home will be just fine.

...this coming from someone who hasn't left her girls to go away with her DH ever

 

[hinodis]

YOU SO DESERVE THIS!!!! Go and have a wonderful time. Everyone at home will be just fine.

...this coming from someone who hasn't left her girls to go away with her DH ever

I am looking forward to DH and I being alone. We have been married for 22 years. We even rented a convertable and we are staying at the Ritz on club level in Orlando before we head to the beach.

 

[flower2222]

I just left my kids for 5 days to go to California. It was heartwrenching and my sister laughed at me the whole time. (Her kids are older) We all made it through fine. After all was said and done, I was very glad I went. I hope you enjoy your trip!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am looking forward to DH and I being alone. We have been married for 22 years. We even rented a convertable and we are staying at the Ritz on club level in Orlando before we head to the beach.

Awesome!!!

We will be married 20yrs in Dec. Right now we are looking at flying to Hawaii and then to Vegas. We never had a real honeymoon. So this would be GREAT!

 

[Squirlz]

My parents traveled the world frequently and left 4 young kids at home! We had a regular live-in housekeeper for those times. Everything worked out well for us.