Q. re: vacationing without your children

[Liberty Belle]

I'm wondering if most people are like DH and I regarding children and vacations.

 

[DaisyJ]

We set the precedent early in our marriage by always taking at least one vacation a year without the kids. It used to just be a weekend, but has progressively gotten longer as they've gotten older. Our longest was last Sept for our 20th anniversary celebration, we were gone 9 days.

We take at least one other vacation a year where everyone comes with us, though now DS20 is living away from home for school and working full time in the summer, he has started to take his own vacations with friends and we just bring DD16 with us.

 

[Mizzoufan]

We always have taken the kids and I hope we always can.

 

[soccerdad72]

We tend to take a childless vacation about every 2-3 years on average. Many of them just long weekends (3-4 days). Our last long vacation without the kids was for our 10th anniversary (nearly 10 years ago now) - we went to Hawaii for 10 days.

We usually do 2 or 3 trips away per year - usually Spring Break, somewhere in the summer and often around Thanksgiving.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

We typically do a vacation each year with the kids, and we may or may not do a weekend or so without them (sometimes multiple weekends away in a year, sometimes none). Our longest away from the kids was 5 nights back when our oldest was 2 and we hadn't begun including her on vacation at that point.

We'd do more frequent trips both with & without the kids were time & funds more disposable. Our adult only trips since having kids are not to kid-friendly destinations. For example, we wouldn't consider doing Disney without the kids as long as they're still kids.

 

[Magpie]

When the kids were little, we always took them. And our vacations mostly consisted of driving up to visit relatives. As they got older, we started going on vacations by ourselves. Now that the kids are grown, we're lucky if they can join us once a year.

I love both kinds of vacations, but to be honest there's something a little extra special about running off with my husband, just the two of us. Maybe because I don't have to wear my "mom" hat. Kind of like enjoying an extended date night.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

We've done one or two weekends away. Next year will be the longest. We're dropping them off with the grandmas(both of our moms) and headed to WDW for a week then back home for the majority of the summer until it's time to pick them back up.

Should be interesting.

I don't mind vacationing with them. This past trip (WDW and other Florida fun) was probably the most enjoyable since they're finally at an age where they are mostly self-sufficient. DH and I need a break though. It's been a long 10 years lol.

ETA: Yes they know we're going to WDW without them. No they're not upset because they also get to go to tons of fun places between the two grandmothers such as Busch Gardens, Lowry Park Zoo, Seaworld, Lego Land etc...

 

[nikkistevej]

We have 1 child, and we were married 6 years before she was born- we did plenty of things without her. After she moves out, college, gets married, we will be alone again. Then we will do more vacations with just us. We did go on a cruise last year for our 20th wedding anniversary without her. the only one since she's been born. LOL She's always been a great traveler, and since we only have one its always been easy.

 

[NHdisneylover]

We never lived near family, so when the kids were little we wouldn't have had anyone to leave them with to vacation on our own---and we did enjoy taking family vacations.

Once the kids were teens and able to stay home on their own we started taking a vacation just us parents every year or so.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

We didn't really start vacationing without our son until he was an adult or almost one.

I know we didn't until he was driving and had a car.

He simply went with us. We enjoy his company.

 

[jrmasm]

Every year, every trip is different.

 

[mjkacmom]

When they were little (starting when my oldest was a baby), we'd get one getaway a year without kids. Sometimes we left them all (loved those trips), sometimes just the diapered set. As a SAHM to 5 kids very close in age, I needed to get away with just my DH, and breath (and sleep). Now that they are older, and funds are limited, we just do family vacations, because I enjoy them so much now (ages 14 - 21), and time together is fleeting. I think the last time we went away alone was probably 8 or so years ago.

When they were little, we had baby sitters all of the time (ok, like once a week), either grandparents or teens. The older they got, the less we left them, although now it's rare for them to be home on the weekends (and weeknight due to activities, plus the oldest are away at college).

 

[E&Cmom]

In the 14 years we have had kids, DH and I have only had one 2 night get away without kids. It is not that we wouldn't go alone but never had the care for them in place. They don't have grandparents who have ever offered to take them. Our family near by are busy with their own jobs and kids.

Not as they are getting older our family vacation time is more precious to me. I know that probably in 10 or less years from know they will be doing their own things so I want us to experience things together as much as we can.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I came back to point out that once my kids were teens and we travelled some without them, they also travelled some without us (trips to camp, with friends, class trips, etc)--it's not like my kids were in any way deprived or travel oppurtunities with or without us parents.

 

[Wendy31]

If you count a long weekend as a vacation, then, yes, we take more than one vacation a year & sometimes don't take the kids.

We usually go away for a long weekend for our anniversary.

For our longer vacations, though, we take the kids with us. Family & vacation time is precious.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

One big vacation a year with the kids.

We do weekend getaways also...some with the kids, some without.

My son is 17 now. DD is 11. We're starting to plan bigger trips in the near future and DS will be the babysitter.

 

[mamacatnv]

We have never vacationed without the kids, I've never had the desire to do so. I like sharing experiences with my kids and enjoy their company.
Last Christmas was kinda sorta a no kids, but not vacation. DS and his girlfriend flew from Texas to go to her family for Christmas. DH and I flew from Texas on the same flight as DS to go visit my Brother and SIL. My Bro and the girlfriends family live about an hour apart.
DD went to Hawaii with friends and was not with us.
We all DS/GF along with my Bro and SIL did several things together, sight seeing, meals etc. and then also we all went separate ways.
It was definitely a different vacation but I would not say it was DH and I on a solo vacation.

 

[prprincess]

We take 1-2 vacations per year and always the kids.

We have thought about taking a trip without them, but my mother is our only alternate caregiver. She picks them up from school and cares for them until I get home from work, and watches them in the summers. She'd be the only person we'd be able to leave them with for a long period of time, and we feel guilty whenever we think about having to add more to her plate.

While I'm sure she'd be willing to keep them for us while we go away, I can't imagine burdening her with the tasks that involves their day to day. Maybe when they get a bit older and are more independent.

 

[lovesmurfs]

When the kids were little, we always took them with us for vacation, and we tried for once a year (mostly camping, etc.).

Last summer, DS22 (now 23) was working and DD17 (now 18) was gone for drum and bugle corps, so DH and I nearly skipped taking a vacation and then wondered WHY? So we went to the UP without supervision, and we had a great time.

This fall we're going to Scotland for a week (kids are somewhat irked!) with no kids. Now that we're mostly empty-nesters, we've decided to try to get somewhere every year.

 

[lovin'fl]

My kids are twin DDs-18 and DS-20. We have been taking short, up to 4 day, trips without them since 2010. Maybe every other year...just 3-4 night cruise or WDW F&W. And now that they will all be in college this year I thought we would mostly do no kids trips. But DH is planning out trips through 2018 and still including kids on a big vacay each year. I think we will do a couple short trips sans kids and then one big one with kids. Not sure how long that will last...older kids wanting to vacay with us. So I guess we will take it as long as we get it.

As far as when they were little...we never vacationed without them. Aside from maybe a night away for a wedding that was adults only or house hunting trip when moving. We could barely afford one family vacation a year so that's what we did. Plus none of the grandparents really wanted to babysit three babies at once for more than one night.