1st vacation leaving baby at home

[Deleted]

DS is 4.5 months old, and I still want to take our annual vacation. I would like to take a short and relatively inexpensive cruise (5 days or less). I've been looking at some offered by Royal Carribean and they look pretty darn good. But I'm conflicted. I don't know how I feel about leaving DS with family for 5 days, but I don't want him on our vacation (we are in dire need of husband and wife time).

[Deleted]

The good and bad with a cruise is that once you are on it, there is no coming back. If you go to the Poconcos for 5 days you could always come home early.

[Deleted]

You're lucky to have someone that will take DS for that long!

We haven't found anyone willing to take 2 kids for a week, so DH and I have only had overnight stays together since we've had kids (we've each taken 4-5 day vacations without each other).

[Deleted]

yabbut I want to go on a warm vacation....

[Deleted]

BW, my mom would come up to watch DS with no problem. While DH's parents are in the next town over, I know they wouldn't want us to vacation without DS so they wouldn't want to take him for that long.

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2011 10:03:37 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

yabbut I want to go on a warm vacation....

My point was that a cruise forces you to not come home early. If you are worried that you might want to come home early but want to force yourself to stay on vacation a cruise would be perfect.

If you want to be able to come home early, should the feeling overcome you, a cruise would be a bad thing.

[Deleted]

Just make sure you don't get pregnant!


<< runs before Jen throws her desk at her head >>

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2011 10:10:20 GMT -5 @wrongsideof30 said:

Are you sure you're ready to be away from your baby for 5 days? It would be like torture for me.

It sounds like she's ready, otherwise she wouldn't be makings plans, right?

[Deleted]

IF we were to go, it would most likely be some time in May. I'm hoping I'll be ready by then. I just don't want to be one of those moms who can't bear to be away from her baby for a day or so.

I wish they had 3-day cruises coming out of my port - they're all 5+ days.

[gavinsnana]

Take the vacation and enjoy.. your sweet baby will be fine!

[Deleted]

You won't know until you're gone. Maybe take a one or two day short trip first, to see how you feel?

that might be a good idea.

[Deleted]

You don't even need to take a trip. Just send to kid to grandma's for a night.

[Deleted]

Trying to make Mom feel guilty about wanting some alone time with her DH sounds extremely helpful.

[Deleted]

Arch - Grandma (MIL) will not keep his bedtime schedule. At around 7:30-8 he gets changed (bathed every other day), gets his last diaper and bottle, then goes to sleep. Their house is decently noisy until around 10-11pm, plus they have a dog with no manners.

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2011 10:26:30 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

Arch - Grandma (MIL) will not keep his bedtime schedule. At around 7:30-8 he gets changed (bathed every other day), gets his last diaper and bottle, then goes to sleep. Their house is decently noisy until around 10-11pm, plus they have a dog with no manners.

You are not ready to go on vacation yet!

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2011 10:25:05 GMT -5 @beerwench said:

Trying to make Mom feel guilty about wanting some alone time with her DH sounds extremely helpful.

it doesn't bother me. One of my NY resolutions (that I'll actually stick to) is vowing not to let other people's expectations of how I should parent affect me anymore. I'm not about to be guilted out of enjoying my life. No one knows the ins and outs of how I deal with baby and DH every day but me; therefore, no one else's opinion matters.

of course, I did start this thread asking for feedback, but.....

[Deleted]

LOL! Jen! That is a worthy resolution and I hope you can stick with it!!

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2011 10:33:28 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Dec 19, 2011 10:30:13 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

it doesn't bother me. One of my NY resolutions (that I'll actually stick to) is vowing not to let other people's expectations of how I should parent affect me anymore. I'm not about to be guilted out of enjoying my life. No one knows the ins and outs of how I deal with baby and DH every day but me; therefore, no one else's opinion matters.

of course, I did start this thread asking for feedback, but.....

Here's where you'll start to feel pulled in many directions.
There's only one you and finding time for everyone who needs you isn't easy.
I am so pulled, even now between my kids, grandkids, husband, business....There is no time for me.

that's the thing. If I'm spread too thin, I'm no good to anyone. I learned that the hard way - many times, but it's different now that I have DS. Sometimes you just have to start saying "no" to others and "yes" to yourself. And I KNOW that I'll miss DS, but I need to recharge my batteries and also spend some QT with DH because I need DS to see what a healthy relationship is like.

[Taxman10]

Leave the kid - he'll be fine.

My wife was sad about leaving DD when she was 7 months old - we went to Jamaica for 8 days. When we got back DD starting crying as soon as she saw us, then DW starting crying. Then I had 2 bawling females to deal with....so yeah, make sure DH is ready to deal with you both when you get back :-)

But I do think you should get away - I love vacations without the kids!! :-)

[Deleted]

I saw some pretty decently priced cruises from RC - $600 for a 5-day cruise to Bermuda coming out of our local port so no need to fly or rent a car. Does the price assume double occupancy or is it per person?

[Deleted]

Honestly, though, you should spend a couple of nights away from the baby before you take a 5 day vacation.

[Deleted]

Arch - duly noted. Maybe you're right about going to the Poconos first. The only thing is that I think DH's family is planning an extended family outing at a Poconos resort in May, so it would be silly to go back for another weekend without DS. Also, I start classes after Memorial Day and will pretty much keep going until the end of next year, so there won't be time for another vacation.

[Deleted]

okay, maybe a weekend in OCMD would be a good start. I found a 1 bed condo rental for $100/weekend in the off season and $300/weekend in the peak season. I'll mention it to DH.

[Deleted]

even just a night at home with the baby somewhere else is a vacation.

[Deleted]

I can't be home and relax - I will find something that needs to be done. Nowadays, I need to relax elsewhere.

[lilyofcourse]

I left my daughter for 2 nights to go on a trip with my then husband. I was constantly wondering if she was eating, sleeping right, being played with, kept clean. Any thing and everything went through my head. We ended up coming home early because I couldnt stand being away from her. And I left her with my mom. I knew mom would take care of her but that was my baby.

You need to build up to 5 nights away. For both you and the baby. I never took another trip without my kids. But then again I dont have an SO to maintain any relationship with. Which is just fine with me.

[Deleted]

I've been thinking about this, and while I know he'll be fine without us, I find that I actually worry MORE about him now than I did when he was much smaller. I think we'll just take him on whatever trips we go on for the forseeable future. DH's family might be going to the Poconos for a weekend in the summer, and we might go somewhere for a long weekend at some other point, but I think that's all the vacationing we can afford to do this year.

[ride]

no one else's opinion matters.

Zactly, who gives a rats azz what a bunch of knuckleheads on a message board thinks about you or how you want to enjoy your life. I find it quite humerous when people come on boards and want to tell others how to feel or act. People sure do enjoy telling others what they need to do don't they?


Oh and btw......my condo in MB does have some open time in May

[wvugurl26]

Mar 14, 2012 23:16:37 GMT -5 ride said:

no one else's opinion matters.

Zactly, who gives a rats azz what a bunch of knuckleheads on a message board thinks about you or how you want to enjoy your life. I find it quite humerous when people come on boards and want to tell others how to feel or act. People sure do enjoy telling others what they need to do don't they?


Oh and btw......my condo in MB does have some open time in May

Hey now don't be giving away all that open time!