sad to say, but my son is 4 and my daughter is 2.5 and we have never left the children. i have only been away from my son to have my daughter. it wasn’t that we didn’t want to have alone time (that we need!), it was finding someone to take care of our children. my mom and my mother-in-law live out of state and aren’t the grandparents that offer to watch their grandkids. we don’t have a nanny or a babysitter. we do plan to have a nice vacation for our ten year anniversary so i have 2 years to convince my mother to babysit!

My mother in law helps out with my kids a lot. (my parents passed away 20 and 13 yrs ago)
She has always watched the kids for us overnight here adn there. Hubby and I have been taking weekends away once a year for about 13 yrs now.
ITs very nice and the kids get to bond with grammy.

My husband and I just took a weekend getaway, and our daughter is 3 months…I am nursing and made sure I pumped enough milk for about 2 weeks before we left, and she thoroughly enjoyed her time with the grandparents I need time with my hubby, as much as I adore my little girl, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that!

I think parents– especially moms should do what’s best for their family. My daughter is almost two and I haven’t left her overnight yet. It’s not a guilt issue… I just don’t want to leave her yet. It’s my choice. I work 60 hours a week and have limited free time. I enjoy spending that time with my daughter and husband.

My husband and I have gone away for a whole looong week every year for the past 8 years and counting. We have 4 children (ages infant to 11). As a mother, I feel like my children define so much of who I am that I need to remember that I am a woman, wife, human too. Plus I am crazy about my husband and I just really like to hang out with my best friend alone sometimes.

Me and my husband took our honeymoon when our daughter was 15 mos old! I told myself that I was going to enjoy our vacation to the Dominican Republic and not wish it away to soon. But the very last day we were there we were having a nice dinner and this mother came in with her three young children and I turned my head and started to cry. I tried to hold it in but It made me miss her so much!

Bravo Danielle, bravo.

I completely agree.

As long as the child is in good hands, what is there to feel guilty about? I would feel MORE guilty if I didn’t take care of my marriage and take some time away from the kids. We were a family before we had kids; we don’t feel guilty taking some time for ourselves, and spending some money on ourselves. People need to relax a little.

It’s so irrating how it’s become the norm for women to consistently berate and martyr themselves (and each other) in the never ending, unattainable quest to prove who’s the best mother. Its like it’s become this badge of honor to prove how supposedly dedicated mothers are to their children. I have the same gripe with the workforce: also a race to demonstrate how stressed and busy and overworked everyone is, blah blah blah.

I just wish we would be ok with women having neutral feelings on this. So sick of it. Go on vacation, or get your nails done or talk about something OTHER than your 3-yr old for a day, admit that you hate Mommy & Me…WHATEVER. Just do it and stop with the peer pressured guilt. It will only encourage more honestly and support. For those who have some tsk tsk judgements to make? Screw ‘em.

My son is just over 2 years old and we’ve never left him for more than a few hours at most! I was at a baby shower sat. and left him with his dad at grandma’s. I really missed him! There was another little one toddling around and cute as he was- It wasn’t my cutie! I did have a good time but I definately missed him!
Also, I’m still waiting on self-weaning so I don’t think any grandparent wants to deal with an overnighter with him just yet!