Worried - Should I Leave Kids for 2 Weeks?

Oh my lord - if my husband supported something like this I'd be on it in a second. I can't even get a girls weekend with ought putting up with sighs and complaints because he would have to do something out of the ordinary.

When my kids were young, I went to Florida twice in one year.

I stayed with friends, looked at houses, took water aerobics....

I had so much fun, I went for another week 5 months later.

I asked them (the other day) if they remembered...and they said, "Vaguely." Then, they walked away. It didn't really matter to them much.
I'm glad I went !!!!

You will have so much fun that the time will FLY by !

i am amazed that anyone is suggesting you should pass on this. your kids are not tiny (but if they were i still think you should do it), your husband is on board, you've got family pitching in.........there is no good reason not to do this.
not only will you pass up an incredible opportunity, one that you would regret missing for the rest of your life (even if you go later it will be very different), but you are insulting your husband and his parents, and disempowering your children if you assume no one can survive without you for a couple of weeks.
yes, you'll miss them. yes, they'll miss you. but you don't want your kids to feel helpless and lost if they're not tucked under your wing, and you want them to be confident and bold as they grow and learn to explore THEIR worlds, don't you?
model that for them.
khairete
S.

I went to the Atlanta Olympics when my kids were little. You know what I remember now, with my kids 19 and 21? I remember how much fun I had and how much I needed that time away. I remember the great experience I had, the experience of a lifetime.

You will have your kids mostly every day for the next 10 plus years. Two weeks out of all that time is NOTHING. If you back out because you are having an emotionally hard time leaving them, THAT'S what you'll remember years from now. What you could have done and DIDN'T because you were a worrywart and a pushover.

Stop that. Go have fun and enjoy yourself. You'll come back energized and happy.

If you don't go, can I have your spot?
GO! It is not healthy to be so wrapped up in your kids that the thought of leaving them in the care of their other parent for a couple of weeks puts you on the verge of a panic attack.

Go for it. It sounds like your husband is both perfectly capable and supportive. Have a fantastic time.

Of course you should go! Your husband is on board, your in-laws will help, and your children are old enough to understand that mommy has an awesome opportunity. You'll be showing them that adventure is important, and that even though they're the most important thing to you, you also have a life. And that's an important thing for us to teach our children. You will make wonderful memories, come back recharged, and your kids will have a lovely time while you're gone.

You will remember this trip forever. I think you should go. It is good for your husband to run the household on his own for a while and it sounds like he will also have plenty of help. I think it is also good for us moms to have the chance to be "missed" by our families every once in a while- we get taken for granted sometimes. Yes, you will miss them and they will miss you. But you are also more than just a mom.

The best trip I ever took was a hiking trip down into the Grand Canyon. It was by far the most beautiful and memorable trip, even though it was physically difficult. I do understand it is hard to be away from kids for an extended period of time, but I think you should GO GO GO! It is a chance in a lifetime.

Your husband says no worries and you have a plan for kid care. I know how it is to worry about your kids, but please do this for yourself. Trust that the other adults in their lives can handle their care and do something that is important to you. Your kids will benefit from a happy mom who takes care of herself. Your children are good ages to handle your absence and it may be a very good bonding time for them with their dad and grandparents. GO.

I think as mothers in particular we start to only see ourselves as moms. But you're still a woman, friend, daughter, sister and wife as well. Give the Mom Hat a vacation. Your husband is showing your kids that you are important and he is capable. YOU show them that as well.

EDIT: You will regret not doing this in the long run. There will always be that would have should have thing in the back of your mind. The majority of us are telling you to RUN TO THE NEAREST EXIT AND GooOOOOH!
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Girl, where is your swim suit and suntan lotion?! I would be the first person running out the door to the car. This is a chance for you to be an adult and a real person and not somebody's mom. Recapture your youth and ride down the rapids. This will give you a chance to charge your batteries and enjoy life. Kids are great but they are not your entire life. Rebuild that connection with hubby while away on the trip. He needs to see you as the woman he married and not as mom. Let us know how all goes. I want go now.

The other S.

PS I wish I had done more of this when my kids were little and people would have watch them and enjoyed the time to be a person again.

Think about the example you want to set for them. Do you want your kids to see their mom have amazing adventures, even after becoming a mother? I know I do! It's tough trusting that our kids will be okay without us (for a few days!), but you know, it's so important that we follow our passions. Being a parent requires a lot of sacrifice, and I'm totally okay with that. But it doesn't require we give up the occasional thing like...going DOWN THE GRAND CANYON!! Have fun!

Go for it -- it's a rare opportunity and it sounds like your kids are in good hands...

I would go. You have always wanted to and I would think you would really regret NOT going.

GO. Your kids will be fine, and you will have the trip of a lifetime.
Just think about all those parents who travel for work, or are deployed, or are in the hospital or out of town taking care of sick loved ones. Kids survive, and often thrive, in these times, yours will too!

Go go go. Your husband said he will make it work. I would not think twice!

Go & Enjoy,

Best, F. B.

Do it. A million times, DO IT!!!!

Go have fun. You'll come back recharged plus your hubby will have some quality time with your children.

Oh my goodness go! You have this opportunity so take it!

Your children will be just fine I promise!

No stressing about this, switch over to excitement!

If you all are concerned about communication, record yourself reading a new book to your children, and one night have your husband give the kids the book while they listen to you read it. They will love it.

This in no way is going to hurt your children. They will be so proud of your accomplishment for a lifetime. And dad is going to do a great job too.

What an opportunity! As Jubee said, it sounds like you would regret not doing it. Your husband is on board and actually will get to do something great on his own--and you two will get some special time together. Yes, you will probably miss the kids sometimes and your kids will miss you sometimes. However, think of the stories and photos you'll have to share with them afterwards! You also will be busy enough and having great experiences, so you won't think about them as much as you expect. And they'll probably have a ball with Dad and with the grandparents.

Consider it this way: if they went to summer camp, you would be apart even longer. So you are practicing for that type of separation.

Obviously, I'm in the 'go for it!' camp. Have a wonderful time!

I think you should go for it - especially since your husband is on board! Sounds like something that you'll be glad you did, but regret not doing.

I think you will live a lifetime of regret if you pass up this opportunity. You need to go!
I had some friends do this a couple years ago and they all said it was a trip of a lifetime.
Your children will be fine :)

My kids go to summer camp every year for 2 weeks. Do I miss them? Sure. But I also NEED those 2 weeks to be me first, and a mom second. All of us need some time to remember who we were before we had kids. Your kids will be fine. You will have fun. Go!

I think you're over thinking this. Go on the trip.

Hubby's on board. Go. You can skype them.

It's only two weeks, and you are leaving the kids with trusted family. When I was growing up nobody ever took their kids on vacation with them. We all stayed with grandparents or aunts and uncles when our parents went away. Kids go away to summer camp for longer stretches all of the time. It will be good for them to have some time away from you, and for you to have some time away from them.

With the ages of your kids and the enthusiastic, supportive help you have, do it. I have made that boat trip down the Canyon. It is a once in a lifetime experience.

Go.
A friend of mine has been away from her girls (little older than yours) for a month at a time (traveling abroad) for either pleasure or work.
This is nice because your children will be absolutely in safe hands with loving family and be busy. They'll be OK.
Enjoy the trip with your husband.
BTW, I'm not one of those mothers that goes on vacation alone with their husband when their babies are newborns. It took me YEARS to get used to the idea of going away without kids WILL BE OK. Trust me, they'll be OK.

All things considered, I think you should take this opportunity to do this for yourself! Your kids will be just fine, and you will regret it if you don't!

I'd not have done it bc of the 4.5 year old - that's still very young but in hindsight now - think the 4.5 year old would remember?.... No. So unless you're a working mom who is home very little (I work - not trying to pass judgement) and/or your 4.5 year old is just super clingly to you, really has a hard time if you are out etc, then I'd go. I assume if you're in NM you can drive there? I do have a fear of flying without my kids and leaving them without a mother if the plane crashes. Irrational but still a fear. So driving would make me feel better. And is the 4.5 year old comfortable with your inlaws? Many kids totally are happy with grandparents for a week or two. If that's the case, makes it easier too. It's tough I know but I do look back and think my kids don't remember stuff like that! Or you know what - I remember my parents leaving me with an aunt I didn't like for I don't know how long. Few days? I didn't enjoy it. But of course now I look back and totally understand! They were dedicated parents. That's what really makes the impact over the long term. Years versus 10 days...

I certainly don't want to tell you not to. It sounds like an AMAZING experience and a once in a life time kind of thing. Your husband and extended family are on board to help, so the logistics are covered. Sounds like it's all set for you to go...and it's something you REALLY want to do.

Unless it were something I REALLY wanted to do and thought I would regret NOT doing, I wouldn't do it. To me, it sounds like this is it for you...so go for it!!

If your husband is supporting you on this and your kids are OK then do it. I was never away from my kids overnight until they were 6 & 9 and then it was only 2 nights - and my husband and I were only every away together for one or two nights and that was only when they were 10 & 13! BUT - that doesn't mean you can't be - you know your kids, you know your husband and inlaws. Will you have moments of missing them and wondering if you should have stayed with them - I think you probably will. But this is an amazing opportunity... And by next year, and when they grow up - this won't even be a memory for your kids. I'm surprised by how much my kids DON'T remember...

I'm a huge scaredy cat and a city girl. I couldn't do it. LOL but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't do it.

Go with your gut and let peace be your umpire. Make the decision that gives you the least angst.

As a wife and mother we give and give and give some more. So when we have an opportunity to take...we feel guilty. Besides the fact that you will miss your kids and husband....why wouldn't you do this?
Think of the positives.....you get to take the trip of a lifetime...and enjoy it without having to be a wife and mother. Your kids get to have 8 days of dad bonding time and another 6 days if grandma and grandpa bonding time. And they will all appreciate you even more when you return because they will have missed not only you...but all the things you do for them.

I don't think you will have much if any communication with them while you are gone. No Skype, email, or possibly phone as far as I understand the trip. People used to travel in the days before the internet and not communicate except for an occasional letter or postcard so it isn't that it can't be done.

I don't think that I would do it myself. But if you do, please make sure you have a will, health care surrogate and insurance that covers you. Some insurance consider rafting to be an extreme sport and does not cover it.

We have made a decision as a couple to not vacation separately from our children or each other. Our children will only be with us for 18 years or so, we can vacation without them the rest of our lives. We chose to vacation together due to some of what was said at our premarital class - emphasizing that if you chose to do things apart you will grow apart while if you chose to do things together you will grow together.

We do travel for work as required but I limit it so much that I realized last night that I haven't been gone for longer than two nights since my 3 year old was born.

Good luck with your decision.

It is a long time. But, your have a great support system and it's a rare opportunity!!! Go! Enjoy!!

It sounds like this really is a once in a lifetime opportunity and something you really want to do. I say absolutely do it. You'll probably always regret it if you don't go and, like you said, logically you know the kids will be fine.

It's important to do things for yourself sometimes, since most of the time you're probably doing so much for your kids instead.

I couldn't do it, personally, although I know a lot of people who would without blinking an eye. The only thing I don't get is why you have to be invited to do this trip. Why can't you plan to do it all on your own at a time that works better - when the kids are grown or at least old enough to participate? Do you not make your own adventures?

I would be all over that! The younger kid may have a little bit of a hard time, but you could call and skype. Heck, go ahead and make one of those countdown chains (paper links made into a chain, one for each day you will be gone.) then your husband can help him take a link off every day, so he will have a measurable idea of when you will be home. The older kid is definitely old enough to be left for two weeks.

Of course, it's easy for me to say... I've never left my daughter more than overnight. Lol.

I see nothing wrong with going. Personally though I know I could not do it. I would not be able to enjoy myself for that long without my kids.

Obviously, only you can make this decision though.

My husband did this trip last May, and the hardest part was being completely out of contact with him while he was on the river. He actually rented a satellite phone for work emergencies, so there is always that option if you feel it's too long to go without speaking to the kiddos. It was an amazing experience, and the pictures were incredible. Our son was barely 2, and I didn't feel comfortable leaving him that long since he wouldn't understand what a vacation was, but hope to get to go at some point when he's a bit older (your kid's ages seem more than old enough to me to understand).

I don't think I could do it.
That said, only YOU can answer this question for you & your family.
Good luck!