Would you go on holiday without your children

alias*alibi

Last week me, DH and DD aged 9 went on holiday to Cornwall. We were blessed with beautiful weather and our site was on beautiful Hayle beach. Each day my DD would pester us to do something and throw a strop if we didn't. She did archery, fencing, aqua jets and kayaking on the site; we spent a day in Helston and the other days on the beach. Unfortunately I came down with flu the day before we were due to leave but still went to the beach for several hours and ended up being really quite poorly when we got back to the caravan. Anyway, because at the beginning of the week i mentioned going to the clubhouse on our last night she had it firmly planted in her head we were still going despite seeing how ill I was and pulling an almighty strop. In the end DH took her there for an hour or so. She is so unappreciative of things we do for her and ends up ruining the day with her strops. Even calling us the worst parents ever at times.

I love DD to bits, she has come on every holiday we've ever had (except my 40th trip to london to see a show); however me and DH have never been on holiday together. I'm desperate for a week away in the sun, lazing the days away next to the pool and me and DH popping out for a relaxed meal and drinks on our own. We hardly ever get out for an evening on our own as my parents live in the USA and his live 45 miles away and don't drive so we spend a lot of time with DD. I tried to book a holiday on our own a couple of years back but felt guilty then tried to justify the cost factoring in free child places and saying DD might as well go as it would cost the same etc. We never booked it and done a family trip in the UK instead.

Would you go away with your OH without the kids? Have you and how did your kids react?

minimoneysaver

Yes!!! My daughter goes to her grandparents and I get a week in the sun with a friend. As a single mum who maybe goes on a night out once a year, I really appreciate the time I have on my own. It's a win win....she gets her nana & grandad to herself. They get to spoil their grandchild and I get to be me for one week a year.

If anyone doesn't think it is right, then that is their problem. It works perfectly for my family. We are all happy

Metranil_Vavin

Hell yes!!!

Mine are a bit too young at the moment (3 and 1) but once the little one is a bit older they will be shipped off to the Grandparents for the odd long weekend/week holiday!

1DayAAT

My wife wants us to do this next year. We have 16, 13 and our bambino born in April this year.. the two older ones are my stepchildren so granted, she has been with them a lot longer than I have..lol.... but she has said that she craves a child-free holiday next year, even without the baby, who by then will be about 18 months. I am still not sure about the idea. I think I'd feel too guilty too, especially about the tiny fella!!

ciderwithrosie_2

I do understand about wanting a holiday just for you and your OH. I think the first (single) night we had away from our lot was when our oldest was 12!! What about offering to take a friend for your DD next time so that she has company and may not be pestering you so much?


However, throwing strops when she doesn't get her own way is not to be tolerated is it? She's 9, not 2 and can surely comprehend that you were genuinely ill and that her 'wants' cannot always come first. She'd been taken away on an all expenses paid holiday and done lots of activities during the week already. You're not doing her any favours by not letting her experience the occasional disappointment, especially when there was a valid reason.

JIL

Why not?

it doesnt have to be a whole week, theres always long weekends to Majorca, Spain etc. As she gets older and she starts going on school trips there will be even more opportunities.

It is important that you and your husband have time together.

peachyprice

Hell yes!

We've always done it, all throughout their childhoods. The only rule I have is that we can only have our holiday together as long as we can afford to have a family holiday too.

I think it's important for parents to have time just being themselves, not mum and/or dad and I think it's important for married couples to spend time by themselves occasionally, it's so easy to get bogged down always thinking of 'the family' and lose sight of the person you fell in love with in the first place.

(Next trip, to Barcelona, booked last week )

angelil

Totally would. My parents went on holiday alone at least once a year when I was growing up and we had a whale of a time with the grandparents. Don't understand why people feel guilty about this...

74jax

I've had holidays without DD ever since she was born. Even two weeks away when she was about 5.

browneyedbazzi

When I was growing up we had family holidays that were road trips to visit family who lived far away (14 hour drive! eek!) which we all went on. My parents also had holidays just for them - usually a chilled holiday on a beach somewhere tropical - and we were left with family or at home on our own (when we were teenagers).

To be honest, it was annoying that we never got nice holidays or to see new/different places. I think for a normal family where the kids get nice holidays too and are generally well looked after etc it would have been ok. (mine wasn't a 'normal' family so for me it's on a long list of rubbish things about my childhood)

millysg1

YEs,
Ive taken care of my neice and nephew so my sister and my BIL could get away. I remeber when i was 7 and sister was 10 and our parents went to turkey for a week. We spent 2 days at my grans, then 2 days at my nans then 2 days with a friend then 2 days with an aunt. I was like an adventure for me! i loved it and didt miss my parents a bit.