Mommy & Me Trip

[BelleEileen1113]

I know this sounds silly, as single parents do it all the time. But has anyone ever taken a trip with one kid and left the other parent and sibling at home? I'm considering this for my eldest daughter's 7th birthday-just a short and special 3 night trip for she and I to spend time together. It's something I'd like to do with each girl at different points in their lives (oldest DD JUST reached the age "I" think she can make it during a laid back trip without a stroller), but I'm wondering if it's been done and mom-guilt has ensued. Thoughts and advice appreciated, along with ideas for special activities for us!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I think this is perfectly fine and just let your dd know she will have her special turn when she turns 7yo. Also I would play up the special plans she will have that week as well.

 

[katyjeka]

We have 4 girls and both my dh and I plan special days alone with each one. We have huge age gaps so this past month i went to see my little pony with one and the casino with another!! Go on your trip with zero quilt. Every child has a right to feel special and bonding with your child is always a good idea.

 

[musika]

We have a 3.5 year age gap. We frequently take one sibling and not the other to certain events. In the fall, DD may compete in a dance competition at Disney, in which case her brother is staying home and I'm fine with that.

 

[noahdove]

I am not the mom, but the gramma and I have taken both of my grandchildren and a couple of my sister's grandchildren
to Disney World alone and it's been amazing, not only for me, but for them. We have created many awesome memories
and had lots of laughs and did silly things...I cherish those special times.

 

[Spunky946]

I took my dd for her 7th birthday while her brother was at camp. This coming summer I’m taking both kids by myself who will be 14 and 10.

 

[lolomarie]

I think this sounds absolutely lovely! Ignore the mom guilt, in my experience we feel guilty no matter what we do!!!!

 

[loves to dive]

I was a single parent with only one kid so it was always just the two of us so no help there but I can say I'm also one of 6 kids, the youngest. My mom and I always did things just the two of us, but again that might not help because the 5 other kids were boys.

 

[RedskinFan]

I've done a Mommy and me trip with both my kids and had a great time with them. It was so nice to be able to focus on each child individually and tailor the trip to their interests.

 

[ScrampShopper]

I've taken DD when DS was too young to understand where we went. Now that he knows what Disney is, he would not take it well if I left him behind. He asks everyday when we are going to Disney! He's only 3 and won't really understand if I promise to take him at a later time by himself. Otherwise I would totally do it again, and probably will when he is older. No mommy guilt here.
Maybe let you daughter bring a special present back for the daughter left at home. Have fun.

 

[Crystal824]

I don't think I would do this, but mostly because I don't think my DH would let me. He LOVES Disney too. He would not agree to a Mom/Daughter trip. Also, Disney is our family place. With that being said, I think it is fine if it works for your family. It is important to spend time with each child individually. We have three kids and we schedule a parent/child date every other month. We switch the kid and the parent each time. We usually do activities close to home, but I'm taking my 7 year old on the Caring for Giants Tour during our April trip for her Mommy/Daughter date.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

I don't have kids but my parents did this. I was only child and so one year we'd do a Mommy/Daughter trip somewhere and the next year a Daddy/Daughter trip. It also gave the other parent some "me time". A friends family did this with set ages, so siblings didn't feel left out. If I remember right, they got to each pick a weekend trip on their own with Mom or Dad at 6 or 7, 10, and 13.

 

[CoachMcGuirk]

My most memorable time with my father is when he took just me to Disneyland when I was in kindergarten (more special now that I know how much he hates crowds, lines, etc.). I'd do it if you can.

 

[laughinplace199]

The elementary school our kids attend/ed ends in 6th grade. When our oldest child was in 6th grade, I took her to WDW for a mother/daughter trip to celebrate her graduation. DH stayed home with our two boys who were 9 and 4 yrs old. DD and I had an amazing time and were able to do things that we wouldn't have if the whole family were there (MK dessert party, Circque du Soleil, and a few other things). Two years later when our DS was in 6th grade, he and DH went to Florida, spending a few nights near Ft. Meyers (taking in Red Sox spring training games) and then a few nights at WDW. They had a great time as well.

Our youngest will graduate from 6th grade around the same time as our other DS graduates from high school. Younger DS doesn't really care to do a trip with one parent. Both boys have decided that they want to do a family trip and go to Universal and WDW to celebrate both graduations.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Why not?

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I say go for it! I am doing a Mommy and Me trip in November with just DD who will be 12 at the time. My son is going on his senior trip in March so I used it as my excuse to go. But it's always been on the back of my mind. I asked my SO to go but he said no thanks.

I offered my son a mom and son trip when he was about 15. I told him we could go anywhere he would like to go but he declined. He's not a planner and I told him we couldn't just decide on Friday that he had no plans that weekend and we should go away. I offered him Chicago, NYC, Universal, etc. Nope. He said he was fine.

 

[Helene_C]

I just booked a trip like this today! My kids have a 5 year gap. The oldest and I are big Disney fans, DH less so. I took the oldest to WDW on my own twice before the youngest was born, this past summer I took both of them to Disneyland, and I just booked a quick trip to WDW with just my oldest, who will be 8. No guilt - the 3 yo takes up so much of our attention at home because he has to be watched like a hawk, his age/napping influences our weekend activity choices, etc - so it's about time the 8 yo got some uninterrupted parent time after three years of being a very patient older brother. When we were at Disneyland this summer I got a sitter for a morning who toured the park with the younger one while I took the older one on all the height-restricted rides we couldn't do otherwise - best decision!
And as for DH, he is all for this. He regularly handles both kids on his own when I travel for work, so this will be easier. And he knows that by sending me and DC1 off to Disney on our own, he buys time before I start suggesting a whole-family trip...

 

[sweetpeakaris]

I would do this without guilt! In fact this March DH and I are taking 7yr old DD, leaving the teenagers at home. Hopefully when we return they will have missed us and appreciate having parents.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would do this without guilt! In fact this March DH and I are taking 7yr old DD, leaving the teenagers at home. Hopefully when we return they will have missed us and appreciate having parents.

As the mom of a teenager I understand you completely.

 

[elsbit]

Do it OP! DOOOOO IIIITTTTT!

I really want to do this with one of my daughters. However, when I bring it up, my husband is always like, I want to go too! My 9 year old had a lot of ride anxiety when we went last time, to the point that it was diminishing the positive experience for everyone else. We accommodated her needs, but her fretting was just over the top. My youngest daughter on the other hand, who was so painfullly shy, blossomed on the trip, and interacted with people/characters. We discovered she was a thrill seeker. The memory maker photos from our first trip are pretty funny, the youngest who was 4 at the time looked thrilled and oh-so-happy on the rides while her older sister had looks of terror. To give you an idea, oldest DD says Living the Land Epcot garden ride is her favorite. ha ha. So, anyway, I really want to do a mommy and me trip too. I don't think my oldest DD will care, but DH always says not without him (we also have a baby, so I would hate to pawn of two kids on someone to watch). I love my husband, but I really want to do a one on one trip without him.

I also kind of want to go by myself. Then I could anything I wanted without having to accommodate anyone, even some of the pricier add-on things like tours, which are too pricey to do as a family. I am secretly hoping to get a bounceback offer that I just cannot refuse.