Inspired by another post - Vacations without kids

[Buckalew11]

We've done a few weekends but last year we took my parents to their place in Nokomis FL for about 7 days. We left DD at home with other grandma and in school. While in FL, DH and I drove up to WDW for a few nights and we had a blast.
So, this year (2 weeks ago) we went down for the marathon and stayed a week and DD stayed at home with her grandmas.
We had a wonderful trip and I think it is good for us. However, we really missed DD (12).

On last Feb's trip to WDW we were talking to an older couple on the bus and they asked if we had children. We told them yes, 1, and she was home in TN with grandma. The man looked right at me and said," Well, don't you deserve 'Mother of the Year'?" *Ack*

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

On last Feb's trip to WDW we were talking to an older couple on the bus and they asked if we had children. We told them yes, 1, and she was home in TN with grandma. The man looked right at me and said," Well, don't you deserve 'Mother of the Year'?" *Ack*

That statement is so unfair. he doesn't know your situation and he sure would have got an equally rude comment out of my mouth.

DH took me to WDW in Nov '05 for my 40th birthday, without the kids. We got quite the opposite comments, especially from the people towing around little ones. Most of their comments were how fun it must be to be here without the kids. And yep, it most certainly was.

 

[ksjayhawks]

We vacation with our kids and also without them. We enjoy the couple time!

 

[barkley]

would love to try it even for one night but it's not a remote possibility (no family able or willing to). i did take one recently without the kids-but dh stayed home with them (and it had to be very carefully planned around his ability to take time off).

 

[katerkat]

Never ever. Well, he isn't even two yet. My sister wants to fly out to see our new neice in February and leave Russ with my parents, and it's only overnight, and I'm still not ready. I think because DH is gone so much on trips and deployments that I don't ever want Russ to think Mommy won't be there, too. I have issues. I'm going to be a helicopter parent.

 

[DISUNC]

My best friend & his wife took a vacation without the kids. When they came back the house was a shambles......AND 9 months later had another kid!!!!

 

[ndelaware]

We never go anywhere without our daughters and have never considered a vacation without them. They have gone out with us to every anniversary dinner we've had since they were born. They are 10 now and I figure they are off to college in 8 short years so we want them with us as much as possible.

 

[powellrj]

my husbands company use to take couples trips every years and it was nice to get away, but he doesn't work for them anymore so we only get weekends away now and even those are few and far between.

I travel for my job sometimes and have been gone for up to a week at a time and I have to say its nice to get away!

For those of you who say you would never leave your children because they grow up too quickly, please remember that not all of us are in the same position that you are in. We have been married almost 29 years and still have a 10 year old at home. I really don't want to wait until our 40th anniversary to finally take a couples weekend!

 

[minkydog]

We've been married 25yrs and have taken several week-long childfree vacations. Our kids are now 20, 13, & 11. The 11yo is severely handicapped. It's wonderful to get away from the responsibility for a little while. We make good childcare arrangements and make sure we are away for at least 5 days--it takes almost 3 days for me to relax! Couples vacations keep us connected. I highly recommend them

Personally, I'm not waiting until the kids are grown to vacation with my husband. My DH's grandfather did that--never took vacations, worked until he retired. He & his wife had great plans.Then he promptly died. That's not my idea of a great life.

 

[JunieJay]

We've done a few weekends but last year we took my parents to their place in Nokomis FL for about 7 days. We left DD at home with other grandma and in school. While in FL, DH and I drove up to WDW for a few nights and we had a blast.
So, this year (2 weeks ago) we went down for the marathon and stayed a week and DD stayed at home with her grandmas.
We had a wonderful trip and I think it is good for us. However, we really missed DD (12).

On last Feb's trip to WDW we were talking to an older couple on the bus and they asked if we had children. We told them yes, 1, and she was home in TN with grandma. The man looked right at me and said," Well, don't you deserve 'Mother of the Year'?" *Ack*

Brenda, OMG! What an idiot. People amaze me sometimes, so judgemental, yet never think to judge their nasty own selves!

 

[MichelleVW]

Personally, I'm not waiting until the kids are grown to vacation with my husband. My DH's grandfather did that--never took vacations, worked until he retired. He & his wife had great plans.Then he promptly died. That's not my idea of a great life.

I agree. We like to get away for short weekends often. My girls are not neglected and are well seasoned travelers so I don't feel bad occasionally leaving them at home!!

We were left with our grandparents as children when my parents went away and although we missed our parents, we had fun with the grandparents!!

 

[debbi801]

I would love to. My kids are 13, 11, and 4. Even a weekend get-away would be great. But, finding someone to stay with them would be very difficult. My parents can handle the older 2, but the youngest is too much of a handful and my father is too ill to be able to handle that well. Plus, DH is of the mindset that there is plenty of time to go away just us once they are grown. He enjoys going away as a family now.

 

[MomPOM]

We never have and I have no desire to. We can get away for evenings out if we want or even an overnight if we desire but I can't imagine going away for a week and leaving him somewhere. Not my idea of a good time. I like my kid and being with him is much more fun than being without him.

My parents never took a vacation without us until I was almost a senior in high school and they went to Hawaii. They had fun but we missed each other dreadfully. They were married for 30 years (my dad died young from a heart attack).

 

[phorsenuf]

My mom died when she was 36, I was 10. Looking back I am very glad she and my dad took vacations together without us kids. They deserve time together too. He took her on a couple of cruises which she loved. Did it bother me they left us behind or I feel cheated that I "lost" a few weeks time with her? Not at all. She was happy and knowing she got to do those things before she died makes me gives me peace.

 

[DaisyD]

Sure do! DH and I go away without the kids a few times a year. I also go with my mom and leave DH to watch the kids. DH and I also vacation with the kids at least once a year. I take the kids on vacation without DH too. So I cover all my bases, I think!

 

[DaisyD]

We feel the same way.

There will be plenty of time to take vacations alone when DD12 & DS8 are out of the house.

By the time our youngest could be out of the house DH will be 58 and I will be 56! We will be on AARP by then! LOL! We take our couples vacations now while we are still healthy and young.

 

[piglet50]

we've taken a couple of trips alone when i was working and dh could come along. 3 or 4 days to vegas, orlando, new orleans, etc. we had a blast. the kids stayed with my parents. we've always taken family vacations including a couple to dw when they were younger. the younger one played baseball, and we were stuck at home most of the summer. my parents also have a place at the beach and we could do weekends there. the "kids" are now 23 and 18. we took them to dw last year to celebrate graduations from high school and college. dh and i will be in dw in may for our 30th anniversary - without "kids". can't wait! we plan to travel more while we are healthy and able.

 

[padams]

We know 2 families where the parents traveled without their kids and died on the trip leaving the kids without parents. We seldom travel without our kids. There are so many places we want to show them and they are growing up so quickly. They've been to 25 states and 13 countries. Our oldest is 11 so we only have 7 more years until he is off to college, and I have a long list of places to take him before that time.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who don't travel without her kids.

 

[mrsltg]

We have and will continue to do so. Last month DH and I went to WDW for his 40th birthday. It was so reinvigorating for us as a couple instead of us as parents. We walked holding hands instead of pushing a stroller, our attention was focused solely on one another, we spent time in the hottub cuddled up, we had long leisurely dinners and lingered over a glass of wine... it was incredibly romantic and reminded me of why we vowed ourselves to each other long ago. It was the best thing we could have done for our relationship and we have a wonderful and loving relationship to begin with!

I notice people say, "I like my kids so we vacation with them." I like my kids, too and they know it. My older dd also understands that it's important for Mom and Dad to have time alone to remember and refresh why they are together.

We also vacation with the kids. It's not a one or the other situation for us. I recommend any couple take time alone be it for a dinner, a weekend, or a vacation.

 

[KristinBelle]

Growing up, my parents vacationed without me many times. We've never gone away without the kids, DH gets very little vacation time so we choose to use it as a family. It works for us.