Would you leave kids at home and take only one kid?

[karmomof3]

I have a voucher for Delta that would cover flights for two. My exDH would buy the tickets for the parks but money is tight for him since he is in school working on a PHD. I would just need to come up with money for hotel and food. My youngest is 7 and I'm thinking of taking him to Disney and leaving the 16 and 14 year old with grandma. I feel so guilty but I can't afford for all of us to go. My teenagers will be going with the band and choir in 2018 so we put money away each month for this. The teenagers are OK with me just taking the seven year old this Summer since they will be going in a year. We have been to Disney 4 times already. Has anyone ever left a kid at home and taken only one kid to Disney? How did it go?

 

[momto2js]

My youngest and I are doing a spring break trip this year. DH is taking my oldest on a ski trip to Park City. Both kids are happy to have some alone time with a parent. I think just taking one is a good idea when you can swing it.

 

[Hikergirl]

Are you all going when your 2 teens go? If not, I say take your 7 year old. You can find something special to do with the other 2 another time.

 

[adisneyaunt]

Nope wouldn't do it.
If your ex is not even in a position to pay for a vacation, you don't have the money for the room, don't have the money for the food and need to depend on someone else for the tix... and leave two of the kids home..
I'd
Save up to take the whole family at a late date. The airmiles won't expire. And though I think one on one time with a single child is a lovely idea... for this situation, it just feels like that'd be a convenient excuse. Sorry... I just don't like the idea.

 

[crazylady]

Not Disney, but I have taken the younger one on vacation without the older one for a long weekend. We had a great time and my oldest enjoyed some one on one time with dad. I figure we took lots of trips with kid #1 before #2 was born so why not?

If your older kids are OK with it, I'd go for it.

 

[karmomof3]

Nope wouldn't do it.
If your ex is not even in a position to pay for a vacation, you don't have the money for the room, don't have the money for the food and need to depend on someone else for the tix... and leave two of the kids home..
I'd
Save up to take the whole family at a late date. The airmiles won't expire. And though I think one on one time with a single child is a lovely idea... for this situation, it just feels like that'd be a convenient excuse. Sorry... I just don't like the idea.

Money is tight because I don't use credit card anymore and I'm going to Mexico in the Summer (already paid for). We have just a little under $4000 left in this year's vacation fund so I can afford Disney for 2 not 4. This money is for anything Summer related. The older two are going away to Summer Camp (already paid for). My older two will be going by themselves in 2018 and we are putting money away for this trip so our budget for vacation is smaller this year. We only go to Disney about every two years or so. Other years we do something else.

 

[karmomof3]

Are you all going when your 2 teens go? If not, I say take your 7 year old. You can find something special to do with the other 2 another time.

No, just the teens are going.

 

[Dis703]

I took ODS alone when he was 5 and left our 2 year old twins home. We had already been as a family. Then last year when the younger ones were 5 I took them each on an individual trip. So yes, I would and have. And will continue to do individual trips now and then. Considering the age gap with your kids, and the difference that may make in touring styles, as well as the fact they are getting to go with the band I don't see any issue with making this just a trip for the 7 year old. Your older ones are plenty old enough to understand why. Go and have a great time!

 

[texasroni75]

Yep, I've done it. Took a mother-daughter trip with teen DD in September 2014, and also took a mommy-and-me trip with my then 4-year old DS in December 2015. Both trips were awesome. DH stayed home with the other kids.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Why would this be an issue? It's great to be able to spend time with just one child; why do yo have to do everything together? If the older kids don't care and you can afford it, go.

 

[MammaMoe48]

Why would this be an issue? It's great to be able to spend time with just one child; why do yo have to do everything together? If the older kids don't care and you can afford it, go.

This. If they are ok with it, then don't worry about it.

 

[Spunky946]

I took my daughter when she turned 7 and her older brother was at camp and he was fine. We had a blast and we all went as a family to Disneyland later in the summer.

 

[adisneyaunt]

Money is tight because I don't use credit card anymore and I'm going to Mexico in the Summer (already paid for). We have just a little under $4000 left in this year's vacation fund so I can afford Disney for 2 not 4. This money is for anything Summer related. The older two are going away to Summer Camp (already paid for). My older two will be going by themselves in 2018 and we are putting money away for this trip so our budget for vacation is smaller this year. We only go to Disney about every two years or so. Other years we do something else.

It really was Just my opinion, since u asked, lol!
Ya know sometimes "after" I re-read a post I wrote I realize that the "sound" of it had room for misinterpretation. So if I offended you, truly didn't mean too. didn't mean to make u feel the need to justify it further.. I may disagree but certainly respect anothers' point of view.
Sounds like ur all planned out... enjoy ur trip/decision!

 

[mymickeyfans]

I'm doing the same thing in March. I'm taking my 7 year old daughter and leaving my 12.5 year old son at home with my husband. We will be meeting my brother and niece (also 7) there for 3 days. I told my son he was more than welcome to come, but that we'd be spending a lot of time at Magic Kingdom (which bores him). He decided he didn't want to miss school and have homework to make up and he'd rather plan a separate trip with just my husband at a later time. I think if your teenagers are OK you should do it!

 

[hulagirl87]

I took just DD when she was 5, DS was 1.5 at the time and didn't really know. But when DS turns 5, I will take just him. I'm sure DD will have a harder time with that, but fair is fair! I think it is ok to take just one child. Especially in your situation with the ages of your kids. Would the older ones be upset if you took just the younger child?

 

[katie111]

I would do it. When my 2 older kids were 5 and 6 I took them and left my 19 month old at home. DH had no desire to go so he stayed home with the baby. We had a blast. For each of my kids 12th birthdays I have taken them on a mother-kid trip to Universal. Both trips were awesome. My DS9 can't wait for his turn. We do lots of other trips as a family. It's so much easier & cheaper to travel with one kid. I love being able to say yes to things that I would have to say no to if all 3 of my kids were there. And I love not having to negotiate every single thing that we do. We're taking a family trip in April with all of us including DH and I'm not sure if I'm going to regret it! I think I'll be missing my one-on-one trips!

Go & have a great time!

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Money is tight because I don't use credit card anymore and I'm going to Mexico in the Summer (already paid for). We have just a little under $4000 left in this year's vacation fund so I can afford Disney for 2 not 4. This money is for anything Summer related. The older two are going away to Summer Camp (already paid for). My older two will be going by themselves in 2018 and we are putting money away for this trip so our budget for vacation is smaller this year. We only go to Disney about every two years or so. Other years we do something else.

I still wouldn't do it.

 

[prprincess]

I would do it, because I can see something similar happening with my sons in the future. DS9 and I LOVE to do things outside the home and travel, while hubby and DS12 are complete homebodies--they don't like to go out, travel, etc. and are completely content staying at home. I'm planning a trip to HI in 2018 and Hubby and DS12 are already saying that they don't want to go.

 

[KC Mouse]

I have a voucher for Delta that would cover flights for two. My exDH would buy the tickets for the parks but money is tight for him since he is in school working on a PHD. I would just need to come up with money for hotel and food. My youngest is 7 and I'm thinking of taking him to Disney and leaving the 16 and 14 year old with grandma. I feel so guilty but I can't afford for all of us to go. My teenagers will be going with the band and choir in 2018 so we put money away each month for this. The teenagers are OK with me just taking the seven year old this Summer since they will be going in a year. We have been to Disney 4 times already. Has anyone ever left a kid at home and taken only one kid to Disney? How did it go?

Yes! Leave those teens behind! LOL. My family goes to Disney World, usually, once a year. Usually! The first time we went my wife and I celebrated our anniversary and left all 4 of our kids at Nana's. The next time we took our two girls on a "Disney World princess vacation". They loved every moment. The boys stayed at home and spent a week with Nana lounging around the local swimming pool and playing playstation. My boys loved the special time with Nana and my girls loved indulging in the one on one attention at Disney World. Two years latter we planned a guys Disney World adventure. We let the boys plan every day and feasted on pizza and nachos for a week straight. This year there or 5 of us going. My oldest has church camp and has gone enough that girls are more important than Mickey. DO NOT LET YOURSELF FEEL GUILTY! As a family we discuss how life is a series of choices and sometimes Disney is not our #1 priority. So far this strategy has been a healthy way to vacation.

 

[jevs]

Nope. Wouldn't do it. Would prefer to have all of us or none of us there. But, your family your rules.