should I feel guilty going on adult trip

[pixxi]

I am trying to talk my husband into a quick trip to WDW for us and leaving our 4 kids at home with grandma. I just don't know if I can leave the kids since it's WDW and we have always gone as a family. I think everything will remind me of the kids and I'll feel horribly guilty.

Two years ago my husband and I went to the MNSSHP without the kids (we also went with them another day) and we felt giddy doing it and it was a lovely change instead of worrying if we have the kids and who can go on what ride and trying to split up, the million bathroom breaks, wondering who's going to get the stroller...etc.

That's why I was thinking of taking a quick, cheaper trip with the two of us, we have been married 19 years and probably need a vacation with just us.

We are planning maybe a non Disney trip in the fall to Discovery Cove and Sea World with the family. I love Disney and will miss it and maybe that's why I want to make a mini trip with DH.

 

[tracynicole21]

Not a parent, but full-on believer of parents still taking care of and pampering themselves occasionally. I say you should go!

 

[hereyago]

Go have fun. Adults need adult alone time.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Mother of five here, never feel guilty about spending alone time with your spouse.

 

[powellrj]

Unless you are like us and had a baby on your 18th wedding anniversary, your kids should old enough to be fine as long as grandma is OK with it, I say go for it.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

I feel the same way! But I feel guilty anywhere we go without the kids. My husband has a conference in January right by Sea World and I want to go but I feel AWFUL leaving the kids at home. We are going to Disney next year in March and I am pulling my son out of school for that so I can't pull him out in January when we go to FL then, but I feel AWFUL leaving them home...My husband and I don't even go on a date night anymore bc I hate leaving the kids out. I think the past couple of years we have had a "family" dinner for our wedding anniversary and valentines day, lol. This year though we are going out for our anniversary without the kids bc the kids will be in school when we go out to lunch...I think I have serious separation anxiety from my kids, LOL

 

[Tigerlulu]

Nope. No guilt allowed. Go!!!

 

[ELSA711]

We are going in May for our anniversary, first time without kids and I feel so guilty!!!
I am booking tours and ADRs we couldn't do typically with the kids though, maybe some Disney Springs time too.
We will be enjoying the kiosks at Epcot for F&G festival
That will help me forget about my guilt

 

[kohlby]

My husband and I have never spent a night together without the kids. I'd do it in a heartbeat if I had great childcare! Go and have fun!

Your kids have been to WDW before, so it's not like you've never taken them. I would emphasize some of the "boring" things you're going to do to your kids so they are less jealous.

 

[SweetMissy]

Go! Hubby and I went last February and left our kids at home with grandma. We had booked the trip right before we found out I was pregnant with #4....so unfortunately we weren't able to go on all the big rides like we had planned but we still had so much fun. The only time I got depressed was when we were walking through Orlando airport and it really hit me that we were there without the kids. I knew I was eventually going to cry, lol. Was sitting on DME for maybe 45 seconds and boom....I started crying, lol. But I was super emotional when pregnant with #4, so I blame it on that. After the good cry, I was fine the rest of the trip.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

DO IT! We did it, and while we did miss the kids, it turned out to be a fabulous way to scout out experiences for our next family trip.

 

[smiths02]

We did it for our anniversary in Feb (14 years) and we didn't feel guilty at all.
We bought APs and TiW in June 2015 (for me, DH, and older DS...the little ones were 2 and didn't get APs) with plans to go again as a family this June before APs expire (and just buy tickets for the now 3 year olds).
We decided to make a quick 3 night anniversary trip in Feb...it was a great way to scout out things for our June trip AND we booked a bounceback rate for June. The kids were all totally okay with it. I did miss them a bit, but I didn't miss them more because it was Disney, just because we were away.

 

[bluezy]

I'd do it in a heartbeat and not feel the least bit guilty!!! We have 5 kids and even a night away from them is a wonderful break. Our kids have been to Disney on several family trips and 4 out of the 5 kids have been to Disney at least once without me or my husband (and the 5th one will most likely have that opportunity as well through the music department in high school) so there will be ZERO guilt when DH & I go without kids. We've already decided that when the youngest one starts college in a little over 7 years, we will be heading to Disney for the Food & Wine festival with NO KIDS. We will eat at restaurants that the kids aren't interested in visiting and we'll take a tour or two that we've never been able to do because the kids were too young. And if the opportunity to go to Disney with no kids presents itself before the youngest goes off to college (we might be able to do it while she's in high school), I won't waste one second of time feeling guilty. I will immediately be in planning mode.

 

[lauracitawita]

Wow. I am shocked by everyone's responses so far! I kind of expected some hate.

I agree with everyone that you should go and enjoy an adult only trip. My husband and I really wanted to plan our next trip for just the two of us. The guilt set in and we are now bringing our daughter (and a friend) lol.

I wish we had stuck to our original plan, but I know we'll still have a blast. When we come back, I can start planning our childless trip.

 

[Deffenm]

Nope no guilt at all. I am actually going by myself in April (which DH is fine with because he does not like WDW). He is going to stay home with kids and let me take a mommycation. We try to go on an adult only trip each year (not Disney) and my mom who is a teacher comes and stays with the kids for a week. This year we are going to Virginia Beach and hitting up Civil War sites on the way there or back. We usually do a cruise but we have some home repairs that need to be done so we are being responsible. Go and spend time with each other. We are better parents when we take care of ourselves and our spouses.

 

[JaimeK]

I'll be a slight voice of dissent - my husband and I have taken a few child-less trips but we really prefer to go places and do things that the kids could not/should not do with us. Being surrounded by other peoples' kids and not having my own with me wouldn't feel right.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

As a parent that has no family nearby, but if I did, I would do it in a heartbeat.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

We go every year for a long weekend or 4 days without our son. We look forward to our getaway the whole year through. We always think up some crazy challenge to do while there that our son would not enjoy. So far we've tried to ride and see every show/attraction in the magic kingdom in a single day, tried to see as many characters as possible in a single day across all the parks, done a run Disney race, and drank our way around the monorail resorts. Can't wait to go back this July even though we won't even have park tickets.

 

[kreckl]

I would not want to go without my son. Someplace else alone- sure. But not Disney. Not until he's older and off on his own. Our Disney trips are special for all of us and it means "family time." I would never do it!

 

[hkkatie]

I recently went on a trip to Disneyland with just my sister, leaving the kids at home. I had soooo much guilt over not taking them, too, but I have to tell you, we had SO much fun. Disney is such a different experience with just adults, not having to worry about picky eaters, meltdowns in lines, and being able to do everything that I wanted to do. It was awesome. I say go and enjoy yourselves, take the kids next time.