We were gone 10 days, which is way too long, but it was a bucket list item. We went on a Mediterranean cruise. They were 4 and 17 months old. I don’t think I will go that far that long again. My husband and I usually try to go away at least once a year for 4-5 days without the kids, lately it’s been Vegas but that is because his work has their conference out there and it’s a free trip to Vegas. Things overall went well. My one son had difficulty breathing because of a cold and had to go to the hospital for an overnight stay. My sister who was watching them was awesome and I didn’t hesitate for a minute that she would take good care of my son. What happened would of happened if we were home or not. Of course, I would of liked to be there, but I knew they were in great hands and being care for well. We are going to Hawaii next month and only taking our older daughter who is 6 and leaving our 3 year old boys with my MIL and SIL (they live together). We will leave on a Saturday and be home on a Friday.
As a stay at home mom, I really look forward to getting away sometimes. I need to reenergize and I come back a better mom. It also is great for our marriage. We need time away to focus on each other and not the everyday tasks that come with being parents. Often times we get caught up with the kids that our relationship takes a backseat. We make it a priority to bring it to the forefront.
when our kids were small we were also broke, so didn’t have much opportunity. but when we could? you betcha! i think it’s incredibly healthy and wonderful for kids to develop relationships with grandparents (or other relatives) without the parents around inadvertently interfering with the bonding process. and it’s awesome for marriages when tired, busy young parents get to remember why they fell in love in the first place.
we never went super-far, again due to finances not worry. but it’s amazing how much a weekend camping trip au deux while the kids are with grandparents can refresh the family energy all round.
when they were older (and the grandparents less agile) they would sometimes stay with friends.
khairete
suz
I wasn’t able to travel until they were weaned, so 18 to 22 months at the earliest.
The first “real” trip we took (by airplane, gone for five days) was when my first two were two and four and a half. We had the BEST time! I remember being so worried about my two year old missing me but she didn’t miss a beat. My four year old actually had a bit of a harder time, was a little sad, but he was fine. They stayed with my in laws, and since my MIL had raised eight kids I wasn’t too worried about them being taken care of, even if she did some things different than me.
We always took our kids with us on vacations, because we don’t have supportive family on either side.
I have taken my young kids as far away as South Korea, Italy, Mexico and England.
This fall we are going to Japan, and it will be the very first time I have taken a work / tag a long vacation alone with my husband. I’m sure it will be interesting to see how we manage without our kids in tow.
I have been to Guatemala and Ireland, about 3 weeks each trip, with my oldest daughter and without my 2 youngest kids, and the two youngest missed me terribly. It was hard on them. But absence makes the heart fonder and we’re all fine and fall back into our groove.
I go to professional conferences once a year, and since our kids have been weaned, I have gone without them. They’re now 13 and 9, so it’s been quite a few times, usually for 4 or 5 days at a time. I’ve been in CA while they were in GA, and this last time, both my husband and daughter came down with the flu. Part of me wanted to fly back early to tend to them, however neither had a severe bout and my husband said he could handle it–which he did, fine.
If you are asking about traveling with hubby and leaving the kids with someone else, we have done that too. He is from Tanzania, and we have gone there quite regularly (every other summer). When there, I need to be in the city and we regularly leave the kids with his relatives in the village, at least a day’s travel away. Again, while everyone missed everyone, it also has been a great experience for the kids to get to know that place and those relatives. I highly recommend it.
We’ve left the kids with my MIL while we flew 2 hours away for a long couples weekend. Kids behave well and we put a lot of thought into timing and other details. It was our first couples weekend I’m over 9 years. Can’t wait for the next one while MIL is still up to it.