AIBU? I don’t feel guilty / sad for leaving DC to go out

[Mamatolittleboy]

I have a 6 mo DS. I love him with everything I have. Myself and DH have started to have a night each per week where we will go out without DS for a few hours and do our own thing. I’m enjoying going out, seeing my friends, feeling like my old self, being able to put a bit of makeup on etc and dress up a bit.

Some of my friends tell me they’d feel guilty leaving this DC at home and hate being apart. Although I miss my DS and think about him, I can’t wait to have my own time each week.

Does anyone else feel the same as me?

Yeah, don't miss them when I go out without them and never have really. I think sometimes people say that because they think they should. But it's not healthy for you or your child really to never be apart from them.

That sounds lovely. Mine are older now (primary school age), but I do all sorts of things without them. I'm off on holiday for a week tomorrow without them (or dh). I go off travelling every year on my own. Dh does similar, though with friends. It's great. I didn't do it as much when they were babies as bf, but as soon as I was free again, off I went.

I think realistically the people who say they can't imagine leaving their children often simply don't have the option. They have an unsupportive partner. Or no partner. Or no family help. Or can't afford childcare. And it's a way of dealing with the fact that actually they would probably quite like to get a break, but it's not possible.