How to tell the kids...

[weich1001]

As a family, we have been to WDW in Sept, 08 for 10 days, April, 09 for 6 days and December, 09 for 10 days that also included a cruise on DCL. (26 days in Disney in 15 months)

We got engaged on the last day, last hour or so of the December trip in HS in front of the Hat. The kids' face show the total excitement in all of us!

The kids live with us full time. They are DF (Glenn's) kids, however I consider them my own. Their "real Mom" see's them every 12 days for 1 1/2 days.

DF celebrated his 41st Birthday in May...we realized at the last minute, the "real Mom" would have the kids that Fri/Sat and grandparents were willing to watch them until we got back--so we would make a quickie trip to Disney...only problem, the airlines didn't cooperate with decent airfare. So, we decided another time...

Now, the kid's "real Mom" has decided to take them to the Beach for a few days in June. Ah ha!! We can do this. We have made all the reservations, we are quickly planning a last minute mid-June Trip.

Of course, we will be in contact everyday, just as we are any other time. The "real Mom" does know where and how to reach us should she need to. And the Grandparents are on stand-by should the need arise.

The scary thing for us is we don't know what type of response to expect from the kids! Are they gonna hate us for the rest of their lives? We know we aren't the only "adults only" to go to Disney. What type of responses have other people gotten from their kids?

DD is 13, DS is 9. Both of them are spending a week at their favorite camps this summer. Both of them are getting excited as she is a cheerleader and he is in football and their practices will be starting soon enough.

We are planning to marry on the Dream next year with a land portion attached at the end for another week. The kids are totally excited about this.

On Saturday, I threw out a "what if we went to Disney and you weren't along scenerio" DS said straight out..."I hate you". DD just growled and made nasty faces.

What are your thoughts?

 

[skiingfast]

Maybe you should let them know that while they are on a trip with thier Mom you need to take a quick trip to WDW to get some planning things done.

 

[weich1001]

Maybe you should let them know that while they are on a trip with thier Mom you need to take a quick trip to WDW to get some planning things done.

That's a good idea...we are going to meet with an Orlando Photographer to have our "Engagement Shoot" done while we are down there. And they were both bored to death when we visited with DFTW in December...even though we had prepared them well in advance and had along their DS's to keep them occupied...they are still only kids!

 

[j9000]

however you tell them, just expect them to have a monk on for a bit, though the 'planning' aspect might soften it a little.

 

[nurse.darcy]

Just say its a wedding planning trip and they would be bored as you are meeting with photographers, florists and wedding planners. . .they will get it.

 

[Mickey43]

They're going to the beach, you're going on your own vacation without them. They'll get over it. Maybe.

We have gone without our family, and will again. We sometimes need time at WDW when we don't have to consider the rest of the family. Our family has learned to accept it.

 

[ronnmel]

I agree with the planning thing. Also, just tell them that just as they go on vacations without you (the beach), you are allowed to go on vacations without them.

DF's daughter went to Universal with her mom a week after we took her to Disney. Would we have enjoyed Universal too? For sure, but we understand that she can take vacations without us. So we told her it's the same thing with us going back to Disney without her for our honeymoon. She took it very well. (She is 11)

 

[TaraPA]

As you can see in my siggie I have gone on a few solo or girls only trips without my kids (currently ages 9 & 13). They always say "aww mom I want to go too" but they get over it quickly. I think I go so often without them that it doesn't even phase them anymore. I've always made sure though that whomever they're staying home with (usually dad), there's something fun planned during that time like going to a sporting event or something they think is fun. I try not to talk about the upcoming trip too much in front of them (I come to The DIS to obsess!) So while I was worried the 1st time at how disappointed they'd be, it really wasn't earth shattering to them.

 

[weich1001]

We haven't told them yet and are trying to figure out when the best time will be. Probably when we are packing them to go and they ask us what will we be doing.

I think we are just going to tell them, they will be on vacation so we are going on a small vacation too. No matter how delicately we put it...they aren't going to like it!

But, it is what it is...we need a break! Both of us are just exhausted from going full throttle everyday, in every way in our lives. Seeing Mickey will give us the stress relief and rejuv we so need and allow us time to just focus on us.