Who Has Never Gone Away Without Their Children?

[Wish Upon A Star]

Just wondering how many of us don't go on vacation alone without our kids.

DH and I wanted to go away LAST year for our 15th Anniversary but things didn't pan out the way I wanted and we ended up just going out to dinner instead (BORING).

This year I wanted to go on a 3/4 day vacation to WDW w/o the kids for our 16th Anniversary and I'm having a tough time deciding if I could actually go.

DH says there is NO WAY I'll be able to go and enjoy myself, that I'd be calling and checking on the kids at least 5 times a day. My mom would stay at our house and take care of the kids, so I know I wouldn't be calling 5 times, maybe 2 times, but that's it.

DD is 14 (almost) and DS is 10. DS would be the child to have the problem with me going away. DH and I mentioned it and DS was like "why can't we go?" We just came back I tell him. We are going again next year as a family, dad and I need some time alone, etc. But he just looks at you with these sad little puppy eyes and it's like awwwwwwwwwwwww, how can I just go and leave that cute sad face?

I wonder when I'll actually be able to take a trip w/o my kids. Hmmmmmmm maybe when they are grown and have their own?

 

[always quiet]

ME!!! I can't even imagine being able to enjoy myself on a vacation without the kids! I would be a wreck and probably end up on medication to calm me by the time we got home! We enjoy doing things as a family. Before I know it, all 3 will be grown and out of the nest. I cherish every family vacation we can take!

 

[lisajl]

We always take our kids. Sans for this year....I had my DD 17 watch her little brothers...6 and 9 while DH and myself went to Put in Bay.

I called at least a dozen times, worried that something would happen.

While I would like to go to WDW with just my DH, it can wait until the kids are grown and gone. OH! I forgot....they are always going with us. They informed me of that the other night.

Guess I will never get to go alone with DH!

Lisajl

 

[Blondie]

We've never gone away without our kids!

Pretty soon they'll be old enough to stay home by themselves, heck, pretty soon they won't even want to be seen with their parents! So until then, we travel as a family of 4!

 

[tc]

I never did, but really wish I had. I've had children since 9 months after we were married, and never considered taking vacations w/o the kids. They are grown now, and we started vacationing w/o them a couple years ago. It's amazing how much you fall in love again when you're w/o kids. I think it would have really strengthened our marriage had I spent more one on one time with Stephen. Don't get me wrong, we have a good marriage, but I think I would have been a better wife and mom had I taken time away. If you trust your mom, and know the kids are taken care of, I say go, and have a great time. So what if you call them, that's just a few minutes out of your day. The rest of the time you can concentrate on each other and come back better parents and partners. JMHO!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

We have done one mini trip without them, and have another one planned. My MIL gave me some great advice on that one: you had a marriage before you had kids, adn you have to keep it strong to keep the family strong. Of course she "pays" for giving me that advice as she is the babysitter for the last trip and is on tap for the next one!

 

[glo]

I did not go away without my children until I was 37. I went to DIS Con and had a blast. I did call the kids twice a day, and sent them one email card each, each day...I have gone away three times without them since then. I still call a few times a day, and email, but I think it helps. Sometimes one needs a break to just take care of themselves and no one else. I would try it....so what if you call a few times a day?

 

[AirForceRocks]

For the last couple of years, DH and I have gone on a 3 or 4 day mini-vacation without the kids. Actually, we just go across the river while the kids stay with Grandma & Grandpa at the beach, but you get the idea.

I think it would be hard for DH and I to go to WDW without the kids though, especially since they are still young (9 & 7). Perhaps when they are older and not as interested in going to WDW.

 

[CamColt]

Ive only gone once(1 night WDW, 3 night cruise), and I probably wont have another opportunity to go again for many years.
Yes, I called home when possible, and sure we thought about the kids a lot, but it was a wonderful vacation!!! Probably better than our honeymoon since back then we took our freedom for granted. On this trip, we really cherished being able to do what we wanted to do and not worry about everyone else for once.
I think it was a great break for everyone and I would highly suggest an alone trip. IMO, couples do need alone time, and the kids need to accept that, whether its a night out or a few days away. Do what works for you.

 

[Lynn CC]

We've never gone away on a vacation without DS 16.

 

[Steve H.]

We've done a few short trips just the two of us -- DS often has just as good of a time as us, because he's usually being spoiled by one set of grandparents or the other!

 

[believe]

DH and I took 3 days without the girls this year. It was wonderful. They key is to do something the kids can not do. I don't think I could go to WDW without them. We went to the Smokies and did trails we couldn't do with them, as well as ride our bikes through Cades Cove. I can't wait for our cruise at our 10yr anniversary, 1.5yrs away.

 

[Serena]

I really haven't been much of anywhere without my girls. I almost made it to Cleveland a few weeks ago without them, but my car had other ideas.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We have been away w/o them. But not until they were older(2+yrs ago), youngest was 4 when I left to go meet up with dh in Dallas.
Our next time away was just this past April to CA. Our kids were practically throwing us out. They wanted time alone with Grandma & no parents.

I say go and try it out at least once!

 

[Eiblis]

The very first and only time we went without kids was a weekend break for my 40th birthday last year, and my parents came to stay with my 2 daughters.
Of course the fact that my oldest DD caught chicken-pox 3 days before we left ( at the age of 15) didnt help to make it a relaxing carefree weekend.

But we did have a good break and enjoyed it, dont know when we will get a chance again tho. I dont think I could have gone somewhere they would have enjoyed going without them tho......just me , I guess.

 

[Gette88]

We've never gone on vacation without DD's. I went with older DD to a cheerleading comp. in Va. for 3 days while younger DD and DH stayed home. Well, I cried so bad the first night in front of all my cheer mom friends. I felt like a complete idiot. They were all so happy to get away but I was a mess. They were all so nice to me but the more hugs I got the more I cried. I hope DD doesn't want to go again next year.

 

[Mishetta]

I think that's all a personal thing for each one of us. Me personally, I have never taken a trip without them, nor would I even consider it. I think it's great though for those of you that can do that. It probably is good to have time alone with the man you married, but for us, that won't happen till our little ones are out of the house! Life is short enough, I'd like to build as many "family" memories as possible. Hopefully my DH & I will have some time alone together once the boys are on their own.

 

[FINFAN]

Nothing more than an overnight hotel stay, in the neighboring town. I would love to try Vegs for our 20th(never been) but that is 3 years away. kids would be 16 and 12 then...too young IMO to leave on their own, but DD will hate the idea of heading to G&G'S ( it's a tense situation.) I guess that is why we have not gone w/out them....we jsut don't have anyone to watch them. I agree they could use the break from us just as much as us from them....maybe I will just have to make Vegas happen!

 

[MJames41]

Originally posted by Wish Upon A Star
I wonder when I'll actually be able to take a trip w/o my kids. Hmmmmmmm maybe when they are grown and have their own?

Yes, but by then, it's time for grand kids!

I've never gone without my kids (couldn't even afford trips until a few years ago), and I'm not sure I would want to. I don't think it would be as much fun, at least for me.

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

Well, we've never gone away without the kids. Maybe next year. I work as a consultant for PartyLite and I'm hoping to earn the trip to the Atlantis Resort next year. Dh says it'll never happen because I'll never enjoy myself without them.