The opportunity to travel with my hubby to the pacific northwest for 3 or 4 days has suddenly popped up. He has business there, so I would be able to go and just have to pay my own airfare, we've both never been to that part of the country. Our little one is 2, and my mom has offered to watch him while we would be gone. He sees her a few times a week, and they adore each other but he's never stayed with her for more than a night (we have spent 3 nights apart from him, but not consecutively). She's even offered to stay at our house at night and naptimes so he can sleep in his own bed and not have to deal with sleeping in a new place in addition to Mom and Dad being gone. Most of me really wants to go, I know he will have fun with Grandma and will be fine, but the thought of being a half a country away is scary for me. I don't want to take him with us, we will be flying with him on a trip over labor day just a week later and I think that would be a bit too much travel for a kid that really likes his routines. I keep going back and forth and need to decide so I can get my ticket when my husband's company books his soon. Stay or go?!
OK, OK, you don't have to tell me twice! I'll tell hubby to book me too when he gets home today! I think I just needed other moms to say it's ok, he's been telling me for a week but I just didn't fully believe him :) My parents live in town so our son is super used to them watching him at our house and also him going over to their house so his surroundings really shouldn't change all that much. Skype is a great idea, I will definitely be using that! Thanks, mamas!
Oh my goodness, GO!!!
You get to go on a little vacation, with the perfect circumstances all around. Go, and have a great time!!
GO!
We are talking 2 years old not 2 weeks old, right? Grandma will do a great job. You are a phone call away.
Have fun
If your mom is willing to come to your home - GO!!!
Have her come over before the trip as well - so he knows it's normal.
DO NOT FREAK OUT...DO NOT STRESS OUT...your child will pick up on that fear, stress. BE EXCITED!!! It's an adventure for all of you!!!
HAVE A BLAST~!!
Pack your bags and don't look back. Us moms don't get a lot of these rare opportunities so hit the bricks and get outta dodge!
GO! Every time someone asks this question, I always answer go. You can be away from your son for a few days. It's good for you. You need time without a two year old to relax and to connect with your husband on an adult level. Your son needs to learn that it's ok if he sleeps away from you sometimes so that when he's older, he's comfortable going on sleepovers, to camp, etc.
You really want to go on the trip and you might not have another opportunity for a long time. Your son and your mom will be fine.
GO.... your little one will be fine and your mom is being very considerate and accommodating to help you make this decision.
You need couple time with your husband.. Use this as a time to renew your friendship and relationship with each other. ALSO, your little one needs some time away from you as well to bond with grandparents, etc.
This sounds like a good thing for everyone! Go Go Go and enjoy yourself.
GO!!! Since you have your Mom to take care of your son, and they've bonded, I would definitely go.
Just a couple things to be sure and leave with your Mom ....
1) All phone numbers to reach you
2) A copy of any insurance cards that might be needed
3) A medical emergency authorization form - copy and paste this web site; it has one you can print: www.medids.com/emergency_medical_authorization.html
Good luck and have a great time!!!
Go. My oldest rarely slept at grandma's house. When my second was 15 months, we went away for one night. I wished we had gone for 2. He couldn't have cared less. The next time we did go for two, and I wished it was 4!!!
It will be harder on you than on your kid, trust me.
Go. Have fun. Stop worrying. Little Dude and Granny will have a blast together.
Sounds like grandma is a terrifically capable and accommodating sitter. The fact she is willing to do this at your house and not hers is so smart of her. Say yes to the trip. You have time between now and then to actually go away for a night or even two and have grandma stay with him just as she would during this slightly longer trip. I would do just that -- test it out with one night away with your husband, or even two nights in a row, before the trip, if grandma can do that.
And you are smart, too, for not wanting him to fly with you when he will be traveling just a week after that.
GO. It's good for all of you - your husband, you, your mother (even more bonding time), your child (someone loves me besides just my mom and dad, and I can do this!). I think staying in his own home and bed is a great idea. Leaving your child will never be easy - not when he's 2, or 4, or 8. Don't wait for it to be simple and unemotional, because it won't be. If you don't have a Skype account, get one and be sure Grandma knows how to use it (and you too from hotel computers). I wouldn't try to talk on the phone to him - 2 year olds don't "get" that and it winds up being frustrating for the parents if "my child doesn't want to talk to me."
Over time, you should do this more often - it builds confidence in your child that he can function and bond with others, it makes him more able to go on sleepovers and even possibly to overnight camp, helps him separate from you when it comes to preschool, etc. It's normal to worry about emergencies - we always do, no matter how old our kids are. (Wait until yours starts driving!!) Kids also need to learn that their parents are people and need their space.
Something else you can do is to have a new small toy or book for each day you are away. Grandma can help him open it at the same time every day, or wait to see if he is a little lonesome or sad and say "Let's see what Mommy and Daddy left for you today." You can also record yourself reading a book to him, and then have Grandma sit down at bedtime or naptime with him, and turn the pages while listening to you read. The only problem with that is if he wants all his books done that way for every night even after you come home.
Be prepared on your first day back that he may be a little standoffish. It's normal. You'll fall into your normal routine within 24 hours or so. That doesn't mean it was a bad decision to leave!
Go. Get some couple time. See another part of the country. Sleep late. Order room service. Go sightseeing without carrying a diaper bag. Get a facial. Have an extra glass of wine with dinner. Have a long meal without having to get juice for someone. Be a woman, and a wife, and not a mommy just for a few days!
Holy cow go! You son will have a blast with grandma. If you don't go you are depriving him of a special time. Pacific NW is a great place to visit.
GO GO GO girl! Have fun!
No so sure I would Skype. At that age it is confusing. Out of sight out of mind.
Go. Yes. Of course!
One fun thing to do when I'd leave my kids with my mom for a week was to take their baby book along. My mom would write down what they did together, draw little pictures and leave sweet notes. That and photos from their week together made for a good keepsake.
GO! GO! GO! and have fun
Anytime a mom can get away time from kid(s) she should do it. You were a woman before you were a mom. This is a chance to be a woman again without some little person pulling or tagging on your skirt.
Everybody needs a break and the sooner you learn that the better. I wish I had taken more when mine were little just to be myself.
Enjoy the sights and take lots of pictures and put them in the memory book.
the other S.
I'm so glad you're going (and very jealous!) I haven't had a trip away with my husband since my first kid was born 6.5 years ago. That is, unless you count the nights we've spent in the hospital when our other kids were born :)
Enjoy your trip!!
if we had a ready willing and able grandma nearby that would watch our kids for 3 or 4 days I would go.
unfortunely... granma lives 1000 miles away.. and we only see her a few times a year.. so the kids don't really know her...
you are so lucky..
Late entry here, but go, Go, GO!! Maybe you could give your son something new and special, like a stuffed toy, or something cuddly he can remember came from his mommy. A special "see you soon!" gift. He can give it a name, then when you Skype or call him you can remind him about it. Have a great trip!!! :)
I watch my Grand daughter once a year for my Daughter, she looks forward to it and asks to stay now. She will be 3 in August, Skype can be tricky, she liked it the first night, but the second night she wasn't happy seeing Mommy and not being with Mommy. She was over it quickly but don't be surprised if that happens. He will be fine, you will be worse about it then he will. Go and have fun, talk on speaker once or twice a day. Know he is spending special time with Grandma.
Go. Your mom in your own house? Perfect scenario to me.
