To leave my kids for 9 nights? What's the longest you've left them for?

[HortonMarket]

Should I be considering going on a 9 night trip on my tod which encompasses a conference and a couple of nights visiting a friend in the US leaving my 3 dcs? This will take 9 nights. I could just go to the conference so be back in 6 nights (or 5 if absolutely no sight seeing) but it would be lovely to tag on a visit to my friend out there.
DP and usual childminder would be looking after them so not too much hassle on the home front.
Kids are 8/5/1.5. Will the small one forget who I am?? What's the longest you've been away?
Feel guilty as it's not like I'm off nursing a sick relative.
AIBU? It's okay, I can take it....

I'm going for a 9 day gap soon, longest previous was 7 or 8 nights. My youngest is 7 now, though. I feel guilty about DH having to mind them, but nothing else.

Thought I'd report back on this. I went, I had a great time, they were fine, DH was fine, toddler happy to see me back, older ones didn't miss me. Sorted!

I get antsy after a week of leaving mine, but have been away for up to a week many times for work, and for 'selfish' reasons - holidays, courses etc.

To be honest, you're going for work anyway, your DP is there for them and it would be a shame to not tag on the meet-up with your friend - so I say go!

cross posted - duh!

Brilliant Glad you went and had a good time x

I'd go if I were you.

Bit of a different situation but our parents left us with our grandparents and cousins for 4 weeks in a different country over one summer and we were completely fine (mum had breastcancer, she had the masectomy at the beginning of the holidays and was pretty much recovered by the end of august - she didn't want us to see her unwell)

DF regularly worked abroad for 3 months over the winter when I was a pre-schooler, I didn't forget him!

As your DP is there, it doesn't even count as going away - do it! My parents once won a trip and sodded off for a fortnight - my brother and I loved it (my aunt and uncle were total pushovers).

Go. They will be fine.

Love your name BTW.

That will teach me to RTFT. Glad you went and had a great time. Still love your name.

Go, do something exciting. Send them postcards, buy small souvenirs and take photos.

So glad you did it! Great outcome.

SHE WENT people.

Go! I go away regularly with my best friend. First time was for 12 days when DD was 8. The longest was 17 days. Go!

Oh FFS RTFT
SHE WENT
ALL IS GOOD

That's great OP . Glad you went and the children were fine . I think more women need to do away with the guilt and do things for themselves once in a while .
I've done it myself by the way and my children were absolutely fine .

Nice one OP!

I was going to say for fuck's sake go. Do men ever agonise like this? I don't think so.

Do your children choose you or your DH when they're poorly or upset or wake in the night? THAT is just guilt-tripping.

Glad you went :)

YANBU! Go. ENJOY IT. Savour it.

I left my just turned 5 year old to go on honeymoon for 5 days and you'd think I'd shot him in the head from the reactions of some people but funnily enough, he survived, we missed each other, he was used to me being back in about 6 minutes flat.

GO! You are more than just a mother.

oops. too lazy to read page 3. YOU WENT! Hurrah

Glad to hear you went and had a good time. So are you now looking for a conference on a Caribbean island?

Thanks all!

Ask yourself why you should NOT go.

The DC are with their dad. They will be fine.
No need for mummy martyrdom.

Bloody hell late update!
Glad you went though.

Do it!!
We went to turkey without ds this year 8 nights of sun he had 8 days with grandma who usually lives 500 miles away they had a whale of a time.

They'll be with you're dh I can't see an issue

Gah old thread sorry

Hope you brought them back some lovely little presents OP ! 😀