Help! Mom feeling a bit guilty!

[SunFloridaDisney]

Our family doesn't take vacations often, we do camp and have done Disney from time to time. (all the kids have been there a time or two or three)

We started planning this anniversary trip over 6 months ago - 25 years is a long time to be married and we figured we deserve it. So that's coming up in April. The airline tix are paid for, part of our hotel, Cirque tix, etc.

Just a few days ago, I found out, much to my surprise, that, in honor of also working for my company for 25 years now, DH and I are going on a trip to Hawaii - all expenses paid for by my employer! This will be in July. Its a dream come true, and I'm still in shock.

Ok, here's the thing. Now DH and I are going on 2 trips within a few months, but we have nothing planned as a family this summer. So, good mom here is feeling a bit guilty. I almost want to try to figure a way to take the kids with us in April, although they'd need to be out of school for most of a week, and we really don't have the funds for another hotel room, their food, etc. etc. you get the idea.

My best GF said I should forget all that and just enjoy myself. "The Disney is for your anniversary - and Hawaii is for all those years working and being a parent too. that's hard work. You deserve it and don't feel guilty one bit. "

I know she's right, but still need some encouragement.

Help??

Thanks folks.

 

[zurgswife]

Go for it...enjoy your kidless vacations...connect with your hubbie and enjoy...You'll do something with the kids this summer and even if it is small and short...the fact that you did something as a family is important to them...

Enjoy your 2 vacations..

 

[macfamily]

Wow, congratulations times 2!!

I do think that your kids would NEVER expect you to share your wedding anniversary with them; obviously the Hawaii trip would not be for them as well. Any way possible you could plan something fun with them for a long weekend or something along those lines?

Up here in Maine we have a few waterparks in the southern part of the state; my daughter believes she's visiting heaven when we take her there, and it's a whole PILE cheaper than hitting WDW!! Actually, that's a thought. How old are your kids? Mine's 9, so she's still pretty easy

(whoa, just noticed my countdown timer... )

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Go and enjoy both! How wonderful a gift from your employer.
I would only feel guilty if i was paying both trips and leaving kids out on both. But one is Anniversary, other is gift from employer.
It was hard for me to leave kids home last year to go on 20th anniversary trip with DH, but hopefully we'll still be together when kids go off to their own lives.
Save whatever possible for local camping trip,local amusement park. Maybe have kids earn some of the money for family vacation this year. My kids like pools and camping best of everything.

 

[ktink]

Enjoy and congrats to you on your 25th our 10th was yesterday. Don't feel guilty your kids will be happy for you besides not many people make it to 25 years of marriage and you should enjoy and enjoy.

 

[kathmzh]

I understand how you're feeling, but go and enjoy. This will NEVER happen again, and it's not like you planned it to happen this way. I agree with the others -- plan an inexpensive short trip with the kids for the summer. Have fun, and happy anniversary!

 

[swilshire]

I didn't see the ages of your kids, but I think I would do everything possible to take them to Hawaii with me. If you're anything like me, that will be a once in a lifetime trip. I'm trying to plan one for 2006 for my 50th birthday. I know this will probably be my only chance to go over there, and am taking as many of the kidlets as want to go (which will probably be all of them depending on their work situations). Sure it would be expensive, but will all the costs for two of you covered, this will be a wonderful opportunity to take the family at a discounted cost.

I wouldn't feel too badly about Disney World. There will always be other trips. Doing shorter local things with the kids over the summer will probably make up for any disappointment they have at being left at home.

JMHO.

Sheila

 

[Twinkies]

I agree with trying to take the kids to Hawaii, if you can manage it.

I went when I was in high school and I've got wonderful memories - plus, I know I'll never be able to make it back there (well maybe when the kids are grown?) which I don't regret, but I'm so glad I got to see it once!

Congratulations and have fun either way - your kids wouldn't want you guilty, they'd want you to have fun!

 

[sk!mom]

I would take the kids on the Hawaii trip. Since your employer is picking up the tab for you and your DH, you could have a fantastic family trip while only paying for the kids.

We have a similar situation. DH and I are celebrating our 25th with two weeks in Europe this summer (no kids). We had planned to do a "close to home" trip with our DD8 since we did a family trip to WDW last summer. Then DH found out that his annual CFO conference is at WDW in May so we have decided to surprise DD- take her out of school for 2 days and go to WDW for a 5 night trip. She will be thrilled and WDW is offering great rates in connection with the conference. Our other child is 20 and says last year's trip to Disney was his last. Hawaii is on our list for future family trips so I wouldn't miss a chance to go and only pay for the kids.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

Thanks for all the support and suggestions.

We are planning some short camping trips and water parks, DH wants to go on a canoe trip as a family, and we do a lot of biking, so those will all happen.

Hawaii is a once in a lifetime that we never even dreamed of, and while it would be nice to take the kids, that's pretty much impossible with our finance situation. I never thought I'd ever get there, let alone the kids. Oldest is in college, one in high school, the 2 youngest still in grade school. And they don't go to public school so that's where a lot of the money goes!

I'm planning on enjoying the time alone with DH, which we don't get a whole lot of.

Thanks again to all you DIS buddies.

 

[Lorelai71]

Our family doesn't take vacations often, we do camp and have done Disney from time to time. (all the kids have been there a time or two or three)

We started planning this anniversary trip over 6 months ago - 25 years is a long time to be married and we figured we deserve it. So that's coming up in April. The airline tix are paid for, part of our hotel, Cirque tix, etc.

Just a few days ago, I found out, much to my surprise, that, in honor of also working for my company for 25 years now, DH and I are going on a trip to Hawaii - all expenses paid for by my employer! This will be in July. Its a dream come true, and I'm still in shock.

Ok, here's the thing. Now DH and I are going on 2 trips within a few months, but we have nothing planned as a family this summer. So, good mom here is feeling a bit guilty. I almost want to try to figure a way to take the kids with us in April, although they'd need to be out of school for most of a week, and we really don't have the funds for another hotel room, their food, etc. etc. you get the idea.

My best GF said I should forget all that and just enjoy myself. "The Disney is for your anniversary - and Hawaii is for all those years working and being a parent too. that's hard work. You deserve it and don't feel guilty one bit. "

I know she's right, but still need some encouragement.

Help??

Thanks folks.

Here is some encouragement!

Go and enjoy yourself without the children. I am sure that you and your spouse are wonderful parents who often put your childrens' needs above your own.

Consider these trips a blessing. Have fun!

 

[safetymom]

I think you should find a way to take the kids on one of the trips. The kids would enjoy a family vacation.

 

[LSUDis]

Let me get this straight....you're paying for college, h.s., and private school...and you have four kids, yet have not gone crazy??? You deserve these trips....get out of there!