Do you holiday without DC?

I haven't done it (or even had a night out out together) but that's only because no one will help us. I'd jump at a chance to go away if I were you! Sounds amazing, go!

Don't bother going abroad. You will come back exhausted. Go some where near to your parents but nice. And sleep, rest, talk (not about the children), eat nice food. Sleep more. Rather than spending half the time at an airport.

Mine are exactly the same age and yes I bloody would. Go. Go now. We don't have anyone that can take ours.

Yes we do, ours are older now but we did this when they were little too.
I’m not an anxious person though and we were really close to the people we left them with, saw them all the time and the dc were totally familiar with the environments and happy to sleep there for overnights when dh and I were just having a night out together so it was just an extension of that when we started going on city breaks abroad for 2/3 nights.

I thought you meant a week/ two weeks, op! I think a couple of nights is fine, but ultimately it's your decision and you need to feel comfortable with it.

When mine were that age I'd sometimes have to attend conferences for a couple of nights. I missed them like crazy, but knew they were in good hands with dh. Do you trust your dm and mil will cope? Do your dc know them well? That's the key consideration here.

We left ours for a few nights for my 40th - we flew to Barcelona. They all had a blast together. It's not a frequent thing, we mostly holiday together. But occasional breaks can be really positive, providing you know they're well looked after and you have a plan to get back ASAP if necessary.

Got to say if it was afford a trip with dc or friends I would always choose with dc and ensure that's the priority.

Luckily that's not an issue for us now

100% yes. Grandparents used to have kids twice a year for a long weekend so we could get some sunshine. Once they got to 3 grandparents started to take them away - France, Spain etc. They have an amazing bond now.

I think a girl trip with your friends is so good for the soul, even if it's a mini break

Holidays with them when they are little are not easy so you need a holiday for you

As I am not in a relationship with their father I have about 2 mini breaks and one long haul holiday a year without them and then take them away separately too

When they were little I did it but only for 5 days max as I didn't like being away but their dad is great and they are teens now

If they are comfortable with your MIL and DM and you are comfortable with then do it.

I personally couldn't do it and haven't been away from mine for more than 2 nights and that was with my DH at home with them but then I don't have anyone willing and able to have them for that long- my mum would but isn't physically well enough to.

We’ve had quite a few kid free city breaks since we’ve been parents. Luckily my in-laws were happy to come and stay in our home while we were away and look after kids, cats and dog (my parents would also have loved to and I wish they’d had the opportunity but they unfortunately died when the children were very little). The first time we went was for our ten year anniversary and the kids were 5 and 8. I wouldn’t have wanted to go when they were younger but I know plenty of parents who have so it’s not unusual or wrong, just personal preference.

Now the kids are older teens and we went away to the Canaries recently for five nights! No need for the in-laws to babysit now but they had the dog to stay at theirs and the kids looked after themselves.

Weekend city breaks are extremely common. I can’t believe some of the people on here who need two days to acclimatise! We used to have loads of city breaks before children, and even after with children. You’ll have a lovely relaxing time for a few days.

I’ve been on weekends away abroad with friends when I’ve had small children. Had a great time, stress free and relaxing. Would love to have one together, but we don’t have the childcare unfortunately. I would go for it, have a lovely relaxing time.

We did it but only ever in the UK. My in laws loved having them and we loved the break but I didn’t want to be a flight away from getting home. It’s very much a personal choice though.

I started reading this and was shocked at all the posts saying not to go.

Obviously it's individual choice but I've done this op, and I felt so much better for the break. My kids were a similar age and very happy with the grandparents-they get super spoiled!

Also lots of options for flying somewhere lovely and warm. Palma or Verona are particularly nice. Enjoy!

When kids dad and I were together we had a few nights away, but that was more through lack of childcare than anything else, we didn’t have anyone to have them.

Since divorce we co parent and I’ve had a few long weekends abroad without them with my dp and it’s lovely. I would recommend it.
your children will be well looked after, your dmil seems keen and you say yourself you need some sunshine. I don’t get the issue with travelling to Europe for a few nights that others seem to have.

if you’re comfortable with it, then do it. And if you hate it, it’s only a few days and you won’t do it again!

I think this subject always brings out a polarised view from people. We haven’t done it yet, it’s just been a financial thing, but that’s not to say we wouldn’t.
We have agreed to our in laws taking the LO to a staycation for 2 nights with his older cousins and we’ve stayed at home and he has sleepovers in my parents or in laws probably every 1-2 months.
Id say do it if you want you!

My partner and I have left our almost 2yo with his grandparents who he adores to travel for up to a week on 3 occasions and it’s always been lovely for us having that time to relax and concentrate on each other, and lovely for our DS who has the best time with grandparents. I couldn’t do it if I didn’t know he was happy and settled with the in-laws, but they take amazing care of him and take him out on lots of exciting trips so I know he’s fine.

Probably not at that age but when
My DS hit 7 I started going away without him. For us we couldn't do trips together as we have no local childcare so we do plenty of family holiday stuff together but once a year we both get a child free trip of our choice.

I’d go in a heartbeat.

Yes. My MIL has always had the kids for a week and I went away.

Since I met DH we went away every Feb for a week without the 4 kids. We do something we love that they'd hate.

Yes. It's bliss and a real highlight of our year (and the DC are now teens).
The first time we did it, DC1 was 11 months and it was one night about 45 mins from home. Then, just before she turned 2 (and when I was newly pregnant with DC2), we did 3 nights in New York. We went away again more locally for a couple of nights just before DC2 was born.
Since DC2 was about a year, we have done a long weekend overseas every year (other than Covid) and they have also spent 3 or 4 nights staying at my parents every year. The longest we ever did was 5 nights overseas when the DC were 5 & 3.
It's just so nice to spend time with DH and do what we used to enjoy doing on holidays (art galleries, nice meals). Having said that, I think the first time we went away after DC2 was born, we mainly slept and scarcely spoke to each other except over dinner! Even after that, though, I came away feeling that our relationship was in a much better place than it had been before we went away. It's great to have conversations about something other than the DC (although they do feature), not be interrupted or distracted and just be entirely selfish.
Most of my friends who can afford it and have parents who are alive and healthy have at least the occasional night away. One friend's DC are sitting A levels & GCSEs this year and, ever since the oldest was a few months old, they have spent every Friday night at the grandparents with them being dropped home after lunch on Saturday. Another friend has a similar arrangement on a Sunday and another's children go on a mid-week overnighter. I have always been most envious of these arrangements!

My DH and I have done two trips without the children. One, a long weekend in Rome when our eldest was 18m and the other a week all inclusive in Greece when they were 6 and 3.
They stayed with my parents, which they do for a few days most school holidays, so they were very happy to do so. Obviously it would be different if anyone in the situation was unhappy with the arrangement.
The week in the sun felt so necessary at that point, we booked it during the hardest part of 2021 Covid and it honestly gave us the strength to keep going.
Fill your cup (with sangria!).

If I was you, I’d wait until last minute and book when you’re sure you’ll get on that plane.

As others have said, it doesn’t matter what people say, it depends on what you’re comfortable with.

My husband and I were chatting about this a couple of nights ago (and our youngest is 12). I just couldn’t be out of the country in case we were needed. I don’t judge anyone who could or would, I wish I was the same as I would love to have an adult city break. But I just know in my own head, irrespective of how irrational it is, I wouldn’t relax and be ok with it. Only you know if you could actually get on the plane and go. If that is a yes, then go for it!

Absolutely.

we’ve done it. Max 3 nights. Don’t care how long the faffing is in the airport if it only means 3 days on a lounger in the sun with a book uninterrupted peace. Better than not going at all. But we’re all different. It depends on your circs and how well you trust your MIL to care for the kids

Husband and I went away to Venice for work when our son was nine months old. He had a blast with nanna and granddad for five days!