To think it isn’t surprising that I haven’t had a night alone in my home since 2002?

I've not had the house to myself since the kids were born so not unusual for me but a lot of people will have their kids staying out a lot so they will be used to having the house to themselves

Has your husband spent any nights alone since 2002?

Nope.

I am struggling to think of a friend who hasn't had a night alone at some point.

Why hasn’t he taken them away at some point in the last 24 years?

I’m having my first night in my house alone for 9 years on Wednesday. It’s quite exciting! But weird feeling too.

Also just realised I started uni in 2002 and now I’ve crumbled into dust. Where have the years gone?!

Sounds normal to me, I don't remember how long it was before I had a night alone when my children were young but it was many years

I don't think I've had a night at home alone since the kids were born (but that's a lot less than 24 years!). I've been away on my own plenty of times, and DH and I have had the odd night at home without the children, but they've never all been away without me. DH similarly has been away himself plenty but I've only taken the kids away without him once for a single night.

I think with the increase in separated families it’s probably less normal now as so many children
split between 2 parents homes.

But essentially none, if you are married it’s not really out of the ordinary to have have DH and kids home most nights (more likely the kids than a spouse!)

It's not that surprising to me - how old are the children? I only ask as 2002 being pre-children is a very long time ago - DH and I don't have kids but between work trips, visiting friends, trips away with friends etc we probably average a night a month where one of us isn't home, and I remember as a kid we stayed over at both sets of grandparents fairly regularly (although I suppose if you have 4 that might be less likely), plus sleepovers with friends, but the chances of those things lining up so you're completely home alone seems quite slim.

24 years? Do you mean 2022?

That is a long time without a night to yourself!

I don't get them often, but one night every year or so my DH will take the DC away camping or similar.

And at least that often, I'll do the same.

You should really try to engineer that, it's glorious.

Surely it’s normal to have your children at home with you every night?

it's not "not normal" but it's unusual.

Between sleepovers, weeks with friends and family, school residential, club camps there are a lot of nights when my kids are not home and that's even long before they start secondary school
I can't imagine not going anywhere without them or my DH, and I can't think of any of my friends who hasn't gone away for long weekend alone!

Same for the husbands, they have work, friends, sport, hobbies
The trick is to have as many sleepovers are possible when husband is away 😂

I've only recently spent a night alone in the house by myself in 36 years of marriage! DH worked away a lot when the children were small so I was the only adult and we have a severely autistic learning disabled son who didn't like travelling so DH would sometimes take the others away and I would stay home with our son. He now lives in supported accommodation and DH went to stay with a friend for the weekend recently and I realised it's the first time I've spent a night on my own at home! He's been away at a festival since Thursday and I've had 4 days and nights eating what I want, watching lots of true crime and doing jobs around the house that I've been meaning to do for ages - it's been bliss!

I haven’t had any nights alone since 2001 when my first born appeared. While sleepovers and camps were a thing the kids were never away at the same time, also DH has only ever been away with me, whereas I travel a lot without him.

Have you and him had a night at home without the kids since they were born?

When we dropped our eldest off at uni 5 years ago, that same night DH went to an event with youngest DD and that was the first night I’d been alone in the house. DH was worried I’d go to pieces being on my own but I was surprisingly ok😊

Completely mental to me, I’m on my own tonight! DH working away, eldest away at a summer camp and youngest at a sleepover. I will be on my own next week when children go stay with grandparents. I’ve had at least 1-2 weeks on my own every year probably from about my youngest being 2ish. DH has a job that takes him away a lot, I’ve spent a fair bit away with work too.

Most children are in their own houses most nights . And with four the odds of all of them away at the same time at sleepovers or holiday or trips can be pretty low . So not surprising really . It won't be long though when they will all be doing things that keep them away from home .

24 years?? I'd say that's very unusual. Understandable in your case since you've got 4 children, but still unusual.

My DP & DS went away for a few days when DS was 18 and that was the first ever time I had been on my own over night so I don’t think it’s strange at all

I think it is very unusual in 24 years!! How old are your kids??

I used to get time to myself when my DC was small. There was a fabulous holiday club that took them to Scotland or Cornwall or Wales for the week, and was only slightly more expensive than usual childcare. Lots of people send their kids to scout camp, sleepovers etc. I think lots of spouses travel separately as well as together. E.g. one spouse going on a trip with the kids with other friends with kids, rather than with spouses. Or visiting their family with the kids when the other spouse needs to work or just doesn't fancy tagging along.

Agree with these. There's been loads of occasions where either I or my husband has been home alone.

I have lived in my home with my DH since 2012 and it was only recently he was working away and our DD stayed over at a grandparent’s house, I was on my own overnight for the first time ever…….. but I really didn’t like it! It felt weird. I thought I would love having the house to myself but it didn’t feel right. Can’t explain it.

I hope you enjoy it more than I did, OP.

My kids have never slept over with family or friends without one of us - but DH takes them away every few months or so to his family (I like this family and will often join but I can't always get the time off) or to do something like a theme park (I don't enjoy those). It's lovely having the house to myself.