Parents: How often do you get a “Break?”

[wilbret]

We have 3 young kids, 12 and under. My wife and I had our first full week away last year, and it was amazing. Before that, we had maybe 2 or 3 weekends at best, over 12 years.

We don’t have family within 3 hours, and the grandparents just aren’t capable of helping out very often, in their 70s. The wife and I are both the “babies” in our families, so we missed out on their more eager babysitting years. My brothers both live nearby to the parents, and I’d wager they got years of free babysitting. (Jealous grrrrrr)

Do you take an adult only break? If so, how often? Who keeps the kids?I am worn the %*!# out!

 

[superme80]

About once a year my parents take the kids while we go away. Occasionally my parents take them overnight, but it has been awhile. They are taking them overnight next Saturday and I am sooooo excited. We can't go anywhere, but a night without the kids will be AWESOME! My husband and I are the babies in our families too. His mom and step dad are in their 80s and 90s, so no overnights or outings alone with them!!!

 

[Southernmiss]

Never went on a couple's anything more than a dinner date with a paid sitter.

Figured they were our kids. Our responsibility.

Youngest is now 18, oldest is 26.

Soon, we'll get a break when college starts

 

[Tattylou]

We have 2 kids - 12 and 10 years old. We have never done an overnight or trip without them. We do occasional date nights, but haven't since all the covid stuff. I've done weekends away with my friends - like girls' getaway once a year.

 

[wilbret]

Never went on a couple's anything more than a dinner date with a paid sitter.

Figured they were our kids. Our responsibility.

Youngest is now 18, oldest is 26.




Soon, we'll get a break when college starts

We don’t even do that. Sitters for 3 kids makes for an expensive night out!

 

[Kittyblue]

I've only been away once without kids so far, although now that the oldest is technically an adult and more responsible that can happen more often. I'm about to go away solo in July for a fun trip, and I hope to do that on a regular basis.

 

[LSUmiss]

Never went on a couple's anything more than a dinner date with a paid sitter.

Figured they were our kids. Our responsibility.

Youngest is now 18, oldest is 26.

Soon, we'll get a break when college starts

This is us. I always read on here about ppl going on vacation without their kids. I don’t know anyone except one couple who does that. Our breaks are when he’s at camp or school or when we each take a turn with DS alone so the other can have a “break”.

 

[kymom99]

I could tell a story about how I got stuck with my relative’s kids for 8 days but I’m afraid someone who knows her might figure out who I am. I could be thankful for covid because I have an excuse to say no.

that being said, I had a habit of taking a few days every year with friends when my son was young. My mom would keep him while my husband worked. It was typically 4 days.

 

[disneychrista]

My daughters are adults now but when they were growing up only if they went to their dads for the weekend (that ended permanently when they became teens). I never went on a trip/vacation by myself while they were growing up. Even when they became adults we still did Disney trips together. My first trip alone wasn't until 5 years ago.

 

[DisneyMommy77]

We have 3 kids 12 and under too. We haven’t ever gone away without them, but trust me I dream about it!

However, I am not sure I could actually be gone long. I also don’t have any family or anyone near by that we could leave them with, so I don’t think it will happen. I would be happy with a long weekend away, but not sure I could do a whole week.
I did get a lot of joy today going to the grocery store by myself! That doesn’t happen often, and it sure felt nice!

 

[pxidst119]

Dh and I got away for 2 nights for our 20th anniversary but we rarely got out or away over the years. We like to take the kids with us but my sister insisted that she’d take them for the occasion. My parents were younger grandparents but never wanted to take them. My sisters are grateful and lucky to have us and our teen daughters for lots of babysitting whenever they want it.

 

[kymom99]

I am also the youngest. My parents were older when my son was born. They helped me a lot with after school care so I sure can’t complain. But my sister had kids many years before I did. My parents kept her kids ALL.THE.TIME!

 

[Searc]

We started taking a long weekend away alone the year our first was born. As they became late elementary/jr/sr high it was extended to a week away, with my Mom strongly encouraging us to get away while she stayed with the kids. We loved our time away and the kids loved Grandma staying with them since she lived hours away.

We went on trips as a family throughout the year and they never missed out on anything. I was a SAHM and never once felt guilty about spending time with my husband.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We’ve got an only child who could entertain herself for hours. We’ve never paid a babysitter, but occasionally she stayed with family or they stayed here with her so we could see a movie or have a fancier meal out. Then she started having sleepovers or camping so we went out then. Obviously we haven’t done that since March and it’s fine. Eventually things will go back to normal.

I wouldn’t go on vacation without her. Maybe years from now she will opt out, but for now they are family vacations.

 

[Disneylover99]

My kids are teens now, so it’s definitely getting easier now. But we never asked family members to look after our kids, so we’ve never had a break. It’s not an issue though. It’s just something we’re used to.

 

[Southernmiss]

We don’t even do that. Sitters for 3 kids makes for an expensive night out!

4 kids here. Oldest was 7 when youngest was born. You can imagine that it was less than a handful of times that we afford a sitter.

 

[luvsvacation]

I was a SAHM and before having kids I was a nanny. So I was just sort of used to the idea that the kids were always around. We would do things with the grandparents like go to the park or the zoo but I was always there too. My mom and I would take the kids camping a few times each summer (DH hates camping so I guess he got a weekend alone ) When the kids were 8 they started going to a week long overnight camp each summer. Every year I’d look forward to that week as my “no cooking” week and DH and I would eat out every night. Kids are 18 and almost 17 now so I’ve been free to go out and do whatever I want for several years now. I don’t take trips without them but I’ll go out to dinner with friends or DH and I go out occasionally. DH hates to travel so the kids and I take trips without him. Sometimes my mom comes with us.

 

[luvsvacation]

I was a SAHM and before having kids I was a nanny. So I was just sort of used to the idea that the kids were always around. We would do things with the grandparents like go to the park or the zoo but I was always there too. My mom and I would take the kids camping a few times each summer (DH hates camping so I guess he got a weekend alone ) When the kids were 8 they started going to a week long overnight camp each summer. Every year I’d look forward to that week as my “no cooking” week and DH and I would eat out every night. Kids are 18 and almost 17 now so I’ve been free to go out and do whatever I want for several years now. I don’t take trips without them but I’ll go out to dinner with friends or DH and I go out occasionally. DH hates to travel so the kids and I take trips without him. Sometimes my mom comes with us.

 

[Skippy918]

Not very often. Date nights occasionally and sometimes date lunches when we were both working from home and the kids were at school. We did one trip a long time ago without the kids when my in-laws were actually okay with babysitting. We only had the one child at the time.
Don’t know when we’ll get another date night because with the current situation I don’t really want to eat in a restaurant yet. Kids are now old enough to not need a sitter for a meal out.

 

[Heather07438]

My only child turned 18 this month so what did I do? Take my niece's daughter for 2 weeks now, and planning for another 2 weeks before Labor Day. It's hard not having a break but some day you'll miss it