I feel so guilty...

[AdventurerKat]

We leave in about three weeks for our Halloween trip to WDW. Sage, my 4 year old, and I are going Saturday night with my DH leaving on Wednesday to meet up with us for the remainder of the week to the day after Halloween. We are planning to leave our 19 month old with my mom for those few nights but I keep getting these "how can you do that...leave him with grandma while having fun at WDW"

Mind you, I take "adult trips" often and I don't feel bad about leaving the both of them because the focus of that trip is different than what it is when I have my older son but this trip is about the kids (my son and my niece whose birthday it is and going to MNSSHP) and we decided to not take him because we know it would be "easier" not to. Its still "easier" not to and I know he won't know any different but my mommy guilt is starting to take over. Now I don't know what to do. Part of me wants to take him and part of me says no, leave it for next year when he is a bit older.

Not sure I am looking for advice, except maybe reassurance from someone who has been there and only taken the older child for the same reason that I am not a horrible mommy!

 

[snoopy]

Well if you think you are going to be miserable without him, I say bring him.

But I can tell you I was in the same predicament about 4 years ago, when my baby was your son's age, and my older child was turning 5. A friend that I met on the DIS was bringing her DD to WDW, having a mom/daughter trip and asked me if I would consider coming too. My son and her daughter were the same age, so I decided to do it, leaving the baby home with his Dad. It was a really nice trip, having that mommy/first child time with my boy, who really was a good sport about his new brother, but I'm sure missed being with Mommy one on one.

I am considering doing the same now that my baby is all grown up, almost 6. His brother won't mind staying at home with his Dad, because he remembers the time I took him by himself.

I hope whatever you decide you leave the guilt elsewhere and have a great trip.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Afte my mom's chemo my sister, mom and myself went to WDW for 6 days! All three boys were left at home with daddy while we went to play. Did I feel guilty...yes! BUT I would do it again! (Not the chemo part!)

Your little guy (?) will have a great time having grandma to himself for a bit. He will be spoiled rotten!

Enjoy your toddler free time, and have a ball! IMMHO!

 

[tar heel]

Our family's first trip to WDW was in 1989. We stayed four days and had the most wonderful time -- dh, ds5 and me. Our youngest (then middle) child was 21 months old, and he stayed with Grandmommy and Granddaddy and also had a wonderful time. I don't regret it a bit. We did things we couldn't have done with the little guy, like ride Big Thunder over and over and spend a LOT of time in Epcot (still my oldest's favorite park, and he's 20 now). It also was great to focus on the older child since babies by necessity get a lot of the attention.

 

[luckywife]

It's hard to say "don't feel guilty" because any parent would, but you shouldn't feel bad at all. There is nothing wrong with going and doing things once in a while with only one (or none) of your children. DH and I went to the gambling boat for the weekend about a month ago and didn't think twice about leaving the kiddos at home. Not like we could have taken them there anyway, but it was nice to go do something together. Last weekend we (DH, DS10 and myself) went to Cedar Point for the weekend and left our DS-22 months at home with Grandma. I felt a little guilty and sad at first but then I realized that our son was going to spend the whole weekend with his Grandma and would have just as much fun with her as he would have at Cedar Point because he didn't realize the difference anyway. In May we all went to WDW for 9 days and took both kids with us. It was fun but I didn't realize how HARD it would be with a baby that little. Leave the guilt at home and GO HAVE A GOOD TIME!

 

[Mimi Q]

I think the baby would have more fun at Grandma's house than WDW, but that's just my opinion. It is so hard to not feel guilty about leaving your children at home. My DH and I are taking our first vacation without the kids next week- going to Vegas with three other couples. I know I'm going to worry about the kids, but they'll be in good hands with my family. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Keli]

My sister has three sons (9, 5, 2 yrs.) and she left the 2 year old with our parents when she and her dh and two older sons went to FL. They had already taken one trip this summer with everyone and they wanted to take a spur of the moment trip with just the two older ones because, quite frankly, the little one acts his age--he can't do as much, he needs a long nap everyday, and he has frequent melt downs. I think it was a win-win situation. Little bits seemed to have a really good time with Grandma and Grandpa (and Aunt Keli was a frequent visitor, as was his beloved cousin Ashli) and my sister, her dh and the older two boys had a blast having the type of trip they couldn't have had otherwise.