So torn

[jakoky]

Our trip begins in 17 days and I am so excited but I am also very sad as this will be our first not "full family" trip ...my oldest daughter made the very difficult decision that she isn't coming. She will turn 21 the day before we leave. She is a huge DL girl, she is upset she isn't coming but knows she made the right decision. She just got hired in a casual position in a homecare nursing company just coming in to our town(it a company all over the US and Canada),and on top of this she already works two other jobs.(one not nursing related but has been there 3 years so could get time off, the other she works is home support -not as an lpn...She just finished the lpn course in January...I a very proud of her, she is a very hard worker and I understand her decision.

As excited as I am about the trip,I need to find a way to not feel guilty and "sad" she isn't with us on the trip...I am looking for any advice from others who have been there and done that...so as the countdown is on, and my other two kids are excited, I need to get past this..we are there for 10 nights and I know we will be busy as we have 7 day hoppers, are doing universal, among many other things so time will fly!

Sharon

 

[Butterfly123]

I'm not sure I have any advice...I have a 20 year old daughter who is hoping to be able to come with us on our trip this summer. She is a college student looking for an interniship, so things are up in the air right now. I know she would be dissappointed to miss the trip, and her brothers would miss her, too. It's hard when our kids grow up and can't always do "family" activities! At least you know she wanted to come, and that says a lot! It is inevitable that you will miss her on the trip, but don't let it get in the way of having fun with your other kids. I'm sure she would not want you to feel guilty.

I would not only be proud of her, but I would be proud of yourself for raising a terrific daughter! I'm sure there will be more family trips in the future.

 

[DSNY4ever]

All part of growing up! Take pride in the fact that she has become a responsible adult. Soon you won't have any kids on your trips. Better to make the adjustment now gradually while you still have two others to tag along with you. Hold onto the fun memories of when she was a kid and the fun trips you had...and maybe someday she'll let you guys tag along with her family and help out with the grandkids

 

[azdisneylover]

Maybe you can start planning a trip when your daughter will be able to go. This way, she will be super motivated to save to go on the next trip.

 

[CourtFool]

Surely there will be other trips. Perfect moments are rare. So we should enjoy the good moments as much as possible.

This just popped into my head. Does she have a favorite stuffed animal? You could take that with you and take pictures of it with your family. Then you could send her the pictures (if you have a digital camera and access to e-mail) and say, "You should be here." She can be there in spirit!

 

[Lorinda]

Look at it this way... She is a grown "women" now and you can look forward to special "girls only" trips with her . Start planning one as soon as you know when she will have vacation time




.

 

[CourtFool]

Surely there will be other trips. Perfect moments are rare. So we should enjoy the good moments as much as possible.

This just popped into my head. Does she have a favorite stuffed animal? You could take that with you and take pictures of it with your family. Then you could send her the pictures (if you have a digital camera and access to e-mail) and say, "You should be here." She can be there in spirit!