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To me a vacation is a place without the kids sorry. Going with small children is never a relaxing experience if you ask me. As they get older and everyone can enjoy doing their things then i agree it is one. But when parents take kids on vacations that won't create memories for them they are doing it for themselves and not the children.
I don't really understand this sentiment. I can understand wanting some time away from kids sometimes, but not that it isn't a vacation if kids are with you. That to me is just as weird as saying that it wouldn't be a vacation unless I went without my husband, so I only go on girls' weekends with friends. There are lots of different ways to have nice breaks and vacations, and some of us prefer going with our children as a family.
I don't really understand this sentiment. I can understand wanting some time away from kids sometimes, but not that it isn't a vacation if kids are with you. That to me is just as weird as saying that it wouldn't be a vacation unless I went without my husband, so I only go on girls' weekends with friends. There are lots of different ways to have nice breaks and vacations, and some of us prefer going with our children as a family.
With small children i said. As they get older they are a tad less dependent on you and can enjoy the trip more and it is then a vacation. But when we went on vacation when our kids were 3 3 and 1 it was pure misery.
In general most people don't tend to remember the earliest part of their live...and at most you remember bits and pieces. While yes the child does enjoy themselves at that age they enjoy sticking their foot in their mouth just as much. I love my kids but i go away several times a year without them and they aren't exhibiting any scars from it. In the end i don't see what the big deal is in leaving your children home during a vacation. All around the world people do this and only in America is it considered a huge deal.
I never said it was a big deal to leave my child behind. While I have enjoyed alone time w/ my husband, most vacations we have chosen to take her. She may not remember everything, but those moments for us were priceless, and she has enjoyed looking back on our trips over and over.
I never said it was a big deal to leave my child behind. While I have enjoyed alone time w/ my husband, most vacations we have chosen to take her. She may not remember everything, but those moments for us were priceless, and she has enjoyed looking back on our trips over and over.
Heh yeah the moments i had with my kids at that age on vacation were priceless too...and not in a good way either .
Such extremes! It's not as if the OP said "we planned a 9-day vacation without our baby and plan to do so on a regular basis." It was bad planning. It was lack of foresight. It will not forever scar the child. The baby will probably be much happier keeping it's normal schedule then it would be changing time zones, trying to sleep in an unfamiliar place, being hauled to restaurants every day, etc. I have taken a "vacation" exactly 3 times in the past 7 years I've been a parent. 2 were long weekends. One was 6 days. My youngest was only 6 months old for that one. It is not something I take lightly. I hardly ever do it. But I think those of you saying "no way" are way off base.
ETA we take vacations with our kids every year. I mean that we've only gone without them 3 times.
Last edited by Kibbiekat; 12-04-2010 at 02:21 PM..
Such extremes! It's not as if the OP said "we planned a 9-day vacation without our baby and plan to do so on a regular basis." It was bad planning. It was lack of foresight. It will not forever scar the child. The baby will probably be much happier keeping it's normal schedule then it would be changing time zones, trying to sleep in an unfamiliar place, being hauled to restaurants every day, etc. I have taken a "vacation" exactly 3 times in the past 7 years I've been a parent. 2 were long weekends. One was 6 days. My youngest was only 6 months old for that one. It is not something I take lightly. I hardly ever do it. But I think those of you saying "no way" are way off base.
And so what if she did? I don't see anything wrong with taking vacations for yourselves.
Heh yeah the moments i had with my kids at that age on vacation were priceless too...and not in a good way either .
Sorry to hear that. Maybe it was easier for us because we only have the one. I do know that our 2-3 wk family trip every year w/ my parents was hardly priceless w/ 3 kids always fighting over the window seats.
To me a vacation is a place without the kids sorry. Going with small children is never a relaxing experience if you ask me. As they get older and everyone can enjoy doing their things then i agree it is one. But when parents take kids on vacations that won't create memories for them they are doing it for themselves and not the children.
Many of us obviously don't feel that way about out children. Our kids go with us pretty much everywhere we go,so they've learned how to behave while in public, while traveling and such. It's very rare that times spent out with them are anything but pleasurable and fun.
When they are all grown and gone we will go back to doing adult things only, but while they are dependent on us they are a connected part of the family and I simply don't choose to leave them behind.
They may not remember all the specifics of where they were or what they did, but they most certainly can tell you they felt included, safe, entertained and had a lovely family time together. That's an important part of childhood to me.
Many of us obviously don't feel that way about out children. Our kids go with us pretty much everywhere we go,so they've learned how to behave while in public, while traveling and such. It's very rare that times spent out with them are anything but pleasurable and fun.
When they are all grown and gone we will go back to doing adult things only, but while they are dependent on us they are a connected part of the family and I simply don't choose to leave them behind.
They may not remember all the specifics of where they were or what they did, but they most certainly can tell you they felt included, safe, entertained and had a lovely family time together. That's an important part of childhood to me.
You feel differently for different reasons.
I agree!
Admittedly, I did NOT read through the many pages of this post.
Was it ever mentioned how the baby's mother feels about leaving the baby behind?
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