traveling with MIL-will she be bored

[travel with kids]

We are planning a 70th birthday celebration for my MIL. We think she will have a great time being her two DS and having the pleasure of seeing her grandchildren plus without feeling guilty of wanting to have a few hours to herself. However, she will be rooming solo. Anyone had the experience of traveling with a solo parent? Is it too much "magic" for those traveling w/o children? Any tips?......Thanks

 

[4myguys]

I know my mom would have loved to have sailed with us and probably would have enjoyed going back to a quiet room for a while. Of course, the kids probably would've ended up in her room at night, knowing them.

 

[stingfancb]

I don't think that she will be bored. My 70+ year aunt has cruised with us and she is anxiously awaiting our 10 night cruise. She cannot be in the sun - so we would usually help her find a place in the shade and then we would all periodically check in on her. She loved watching the children, watching the ocean and reading.
As far as your MIL rooming alone - do you think maybe she would enjoy having one of the children with her? I don't know the situation or the ages of the children, but maybe it would be a nice treat for all involved. I'm thinking they could take turns or something.

 

[webray]

When we were on the ship I was speaking with an older lady in the restroom..she was with her neice and the neices kids. She said the cruise was ok...she wouldn't do it again though. LOL, she like the other ships much better.

 

[aprilgail2]

My mom was 73 on our first cruise and will be 76 on the next one I take her on in May and she loved it...she loved the shows, the dinners and just watching my daughter have fun doing what she was doing. She doesn't like the pools so we didn't do any of that (which I didn't miss either) this time she is going to do the rainforest room and a couple spa treatments. The last time I took her on a 4 day cruise but she said it was way to short so next time is a 7 day for her.

 

[kcsc1291]

We just got back from the 6/19 cruise with 3 generations of our family. My parents LOVED it! There is plenty for them to do, plus like you said the enjoyment of seeing their grandkids so excited and having fun.

 

[Hollyster2]

Last Summer we took the Western Disney Cruise with my 62 yr. old MIL. She said she had the time of her life!! She said she enjoyed the one on one time with each of her 5 grandchildren. She would go to movies with them, go check the 4 yr old out of the kids club and sit by the pool with her, entered a vegatable car racing contest with one and WON, and took a Salsa dancing lesson with my husband and me. That was just a few of things she did! She really got a kick out of our servers and just being all together. She is still talking about it to this day and we are going on the West Coast in 2005 and she is already making plans. LOL
She shared a connecting cabin with 3 of my daughters and will do the same this time. She wasn't sure about the late seating and ended up being thankful we had it. I am sure your MIL will have wonderful time too!

 

[kellib36]

I took my mil (82 at the time) last Sept and she loved it! She's planning on doing the FL-CA repositioning cruise with my hubby and I in May! While we aren't taking any children, we get the benefit of seeing other people's kids having fun, but when they're having a meltdown, we can walk away!!

In Dec '97, we did a family trip (just to WDW, not a cruise) and my folks got a separate room. It was great if one of the kids got too rowdy and needed a timeout. Or if they had school work to do. Also, my parents got to spend some time with each kid (we had 5 total) during the course of 2 weeks.

I always let my mil decide what she wanted to do. I'd tell her, I want to do this, are you up for it or would you like to do something else? Sometimes she did what I wanted, other times she solo'ed.

She is a diabetic, and after a few days of someone else cooking for her, and food being available 24/7, she was really "firing on all cylinders" if you get my drift.....my sil was amazed when we got home, since my mil was more animated than she's been for quite a while. The stimulation was great for her!!

Good luck, Kelli

 

[travel with kids]

Originally posted by kellib36
she was really "firing on all cylinders" if you get my drift.....my sil was amazed when we got home, since my mil was more animated than she's been for quite a while. The stimulation was great for her!!

Good luck, Kelli

LOL!! I do not think I could handle my MIL with "all her cylinders firing"!!


Thanks everyone for the responses.

 

[rcdisneyfam]

My parents - Mid 60's went with us 2 years ago and loved it. Mom loved the Galley tour, Dad enjoyed his quiet time on deck 4 reading his book. Mom and Dad won the Jitter Bug Contest on 50's night and they really enjoyed touring the islands just the two of them and we did our own thing with the teenagers on our excursions. The Disney Cruise has something for every age.

 

[kellib36]

Originally posted by travel with kids
LOL!! I do not think I could handle my MIL with "all her cylinders firing"!!

I totally understand!!!

 

[llachance]

Took my mom a couple of years ago, she shared a cabin with my daughter and I. She had a ball. When I told her we were taking the kids next year on the Mexican Riviera cruise she and my step-father promptly signed up to join us. Mom is mid-60s....