17 Mo. Old Visiting Grandparents for a Week -- Need Reassurance

N.,

I guess I would ask if you are worried about your little boy, or are you worried about you being seperated from your little boy? I had to fly to Boston for a week and leave all four of mine with my mom. It was worse for me than it was for any of them. When you were little, did you get to stay with your Gramma? I did, and it was always great, even if Gramma was exhausted when I went home.

Make sure he gets to take something that he wants to take, a toy, a movie, a pillow or blankie. I always included medicine, just in case. Most Grammas don't keep kid's meds handy, and since you have it, she won't have to go buy it. There are some things to help your peace of mind, too. I always had a medical release form for my mom, JUST IN CASE, one of them would wake up with pink eye or something. She could take them without waiting for me.

Relax. I know it is hard. It is still hard for me to leave mine for more than a night, but it will be a great break for you, and a nice treat for both your Mom and your son.

oh please do let your son go and stay - for a few reasons I say this. My daughter has 1 grandma left and it is so sad to know that she missed out on some really great times with the others. She spent alot of time with my father in law but he passed away when she was 3. She has so many wonderful memories of him and she talks about him often! Another good reason is that it is a great bonding time for you and your husband! Your relationship is extremely important in the health of a family and you know a long weekend/a week/or whatever can put you right back to your honeymoon stage and remind you why you fell in love in the first place. I love my children to pieces and love doing things with them but selfishly I admit I love it when we have a couple days alone to go out, relax, intimacy without interruptions.
My children have all went and spent time with relatives and the longest was a week with grandma - yep, that is hard at that age, just think of the postive bonding your parents will have - even if you don't agree with all their child rearing activities while your son is gone! :-)
Remember when he is gone to take some alone time for you - it's a great chance for you to pamper yourself a bit - we moms don't always get that opportunity!!

Hi N.,

Do you trust your mom? She did raise you after all.

I know how hard it can be to leave a little one for an exended period. My husband and I planned our first ever vacation/honeymoon (my first plane ride and all) after our first son was 18 months old. We got to Mexico and I called home to his mom and made about 10 more calls over the course of the next four days. I was obsessed with thoughts of the baby and he was all I would talk about.

I knew he was in great hands, but I missed him. Needless to say, I ruined our first ever honeymoon. I barely even remember it.

Now, many years later I look back and laugh, but to my husband it was no laughing matter at the time and he still won't joke with me about it. Our little guy is 9 now and his little bro is 5. Grandma called about a month ago to see when they go on Spring Break from school. She wants to keep them for the whole time.

Trust me, it will get easier to let him go in time. Take a deep breath and take the plunge. You and hubby will probably enjoy the "us" time. What a wonderful way to reconnect with each other.

And there is always the telephone.

:)

I went away from my kids for a week when my son was 15 months and my daughter was 6 weeks. They did just fine. I was ok the 2nd day and enjoyed the week after that! We still called every night, but the grandparents had so much fun with the kids and my husband and I really reconnected.

Before we left, we made sure we gave the grandparents a power of attorney for child care/medical care in case there was a medical emergency and we couldn't get to them fast enough. You can get one from your lawyer, but I think you can also do it through some of the legal online sites. It just smooths the way through hospitals/doctors offices if necessary.

I just left my 2 boys (ages 5 and 14 months) with my parents for the weekend a couple weeks ago and neither one wanted to come home when we went to pick them up. My baby is totally comfortable there and didn't seem to miss us at all. We're planning on doing a week next time and everyone is looking forward to it.
It would be a pain to have to drive 5 hours to pick him up early, but it's definitely doable if he does have a problem, right? Chances are he'll be fine, have a blast, and you'll get a well-deserved break and maybe a nap or two. =)

I think this is a wonderful opportunity for your son to bond with grandma. My daughter is also 17 months and has spent quite a few nights with both grandmas. They all love it and it gives my husband and I time as a couple. We've never left her for a whole week - the maximum was 3 nights - but we're going on a trip at the end of May for 7 days. I only wish I had that close bond with my grandmas, but I never did. You son will grow up with great memories of time with grandma!

What a fantastic opportunity for your children and their grandparents!!!! My children have only stayed with my mom for a night and she cherishes the time she has had. Just make sure your mom knows the rules that you absolutely won't negotiate and let them do their thing. Think of it as a mini vacation for you and your husband.

GO FOR IT!!!

Go for it, let him go and have fun. It may be a little traumatic when he first leaves, but once he gets to grandmas he'll have fun. My parents took our son for a week last September, about 20 months old so I was too very nervous. He had so much fun, playing outside, they went swimming in the lake, played at the park, etc. He was happy to be there. He can call you on thone phone and you can call and check in whenever you like.
One thing we did is gave my parents a letter with our insurace info and permission for them to make medical decisions if anything were to happen (they live two hours away). Sign and date the letter an give to your mom. Its a just in case thing. Explain to him that he is giong to visit grandma and have him talk to her on the phone before he goes.
You will be amazed at how well he'll do and jsut imagine the date nights and things you can get done around the house. We painted our sons bedroom and the bathroom while he was gone. I did get lonely for him, but in the end, it was a good visit for all of us, especially our son because he remembers the visit and talks about them all the time. He sees them about once a month now and loves it.

Dear N.,
It sounds like you have nothing to worry about, especially considering you have one successful overnight mission under your belt. When my kids were little, my son had started kindergarden and my daughter wasnt old enough yet for Head Start. Their grandmother owned a vacation home in Florida and thus was a "snow bird". That particular winter, I let grandma take me 3 year old daughter with her to Florida for an entire month and my daughter came back a bit tan, but the two of them had a wonderful time and I had some good one on one time with my son. Enjoy the time you will have to pamper yourself and catch up on YOU time. Grandma will likely be enjoying her Grandma time and keeping your son busy with activities full of love. Your son probably wont miss you as much as you may miss him! Again, enjoy the time for yourself!
C. M.

any time your kids go stay with someone else it is nerve racking, being two days or three days or a week. there are always going to be concerns.

when I was young, I remember spending weeks at a time during the summer up at my grandma's house...and my dad and my grandpa DID NOT get along well, there was always tension between them, and my dad still allowed me to go, granted I wasn't 17 months old (well I may have been, I just don't remember) but I remember how fun it was and the different things I would do and experience.

I think your mom will do just fine, I think your son will too...I think you will miss him like crazy and really appreciate the break as well. (would she take my kids too???)_