What are your thoughts on holidaying without your children?

[Dinoswearunderpants]

Curious to know if people think it's ok to regularly go on holiday without their kids.

I personally like going away with my DS but I see so many people on social media often go away without their kids.

If you do it, do you take your kids away another time?

Love to know peoples thoughts.

I guess the AIBU is

we haven't but that's because we enjoy being with them and don't want to leave them out of any family events.

They are 14 and 18 and will always be invited to come away with us if they want to. Well until they have their own lives that is!

Doesn't bother me if others do it differently though

DH and I try to have a break each year just the 2 of us. We’ve done 7 days but it’s usually 2-4 days.

Unlike a PP I think it’s very healthy for parents to spend time away and exclusively together (if married or partners). Or for parents to step back and spend some time recharging their own batteries. It’s a version of ‘put your own oxygen mask on first’.

I love going away with our kids too but it’s different and important when it’s just me and DH. Regular date nights are a part of this too.

Being a parent is important. So are other things in my life. Which include going away by myself or with DH.

Really? That's strange. Most people have kids for the sheer joy of getting away from them. You're definitely a much better and caring parent than many others. I've always told mine what little twats they are. I don't think it's good for their development to think their parents love them.

Since our children were born 13 years ago we've had a couple of short trips away without the children. The longest was one week. I love going on holiday with the kids so wouldn't want to go away without them frequently. I'd want them to experience whatever we're experiencing!
At the same time it is good to have couple time too. A night or two away with your partner is really good for the relationship.

My kids are 19 and 17 so obviously fairly old.
We do a mixture of all family holidays, holidays with just one and then holidays without.
I've always enjoyed us spending one on one time with the kids. For example I'd take my son to Centerparcs for a weekend and my husband would take my daughter to Brighton and then vice versa. I'm also enjoying spending time with just my husband as my son will start Uni in September so both will have 'left home'.
I think you should do what makes you happy.

I am divorced from the kids Dad and I take the children on holiday at least once a year but also have a holiday with my DH.
I’ve explained to the kids (12 & 14) that it’s important for me and their step dad to have quality time alone.

Dh and I have a week away abroad now every year without the dc but we have a 2 week family holiday with them too. Wouldn’t go away without them unless they had also had a holiday.
Suits us fine, holidays with the dc are lovely but very different from a holiday with just the 2 of us.
We didn’t have our first week long holiday without them until about 8 years ago; my dad moved in and had the kids who were 4, 11 and 13, he enjoyed the time with them and was only early 50’s himself so plenty of get up and go, he took them to all sorts of fun places and they had a great week. We now do it yearly and have no regrets. The kids are happy for us (they’re now 19,18 and 12) and usually my sister moves in now for a few days as the older 2 aren’t always around for the younger one. They set up a gaming station and get a lot of takeaways 😂

And lamented how upset you were! 😂

😀 God, the martyrdom on here. My DC didn't want to go to Angkor Wat so I left them with their dad and went on my own. I suppose I am doing parenthood wrong.

If you have childcare available, enough annual leave and finances allow, why not? It’s wonderful to have some adult time with partner or friends.

I wouldn’t go without them if it was at the expense of family holidays though, they are the priority then everything else is planned around

It wouldn't suit me. I think holidays with my children are better than those without.

In fact, now that they're adults I try to bribe them to come with us (with varying success!). I do realise they like to have holidays with their own partners/families.

DH and I have plenty of time to do adult holidays together now that they've left home.

I don't but I get to travel a lot through work, so while I am most definitely working I do get to see some great places. I think if I didn't do that I might feel like I'd like a solo trip.
DP and I can never go away alone, we just don't have anyone to have DS. He's in secondary now and the school trips are longer so we might get the chance!

We do and I love it! I adore my kids but they’re young and very full on and I am a MUCH better parent for a break in routine! And they stay with grandparents who they adore and it’s wonderful to see their relationship develop. My mum adores having the kids to stay and they get totally spoilt and love it, while we get to do holidays kids can’t come on and get some much needed r&r! Everyone wins.
you do you! Some people wouldn’t consider it, some people are divorced and only have their kids 50/50 so why wouldn’t they make the most of their time.

We do both. We go on a few holidays a year as a family. We go for a long weekend away as a couple once a year. We also have a couple of long weekends away with friends.

You're also very very privileged to have childcare for that long. And to be able to afford multiple holidays a year.

But I chose to be a parent knowing I wouldn't have such childcare, and I truly do enjoy my children and there is so much I want to share with them before they leave home and stop wanting to come. We delayed having children so we could do long far flung wild holidays. And plan to spend as much of our retirement as possible travelling.

In fact I am holidaying next week with my kids and leaving my husband / their Dad at home! :D (the annual leave juggle)

How can i miss you if you dont go away, even the cutest well behaved kids are annoying so a break does everyone good.

Left mine to honeymoon for 2 weeks in Jordan, usually we have 2 week family holiday a year and a 3/4 night break for ourselves.

DH and I have done short breaks without our DS but anything over a couple of days have always included him.

I do t really care what bother people do as long as they are happy. I found attitudes like those of @PictureALadybird extremely odd. Why care what other people are doing?!

When we have children we are still people with needs beyond our children.

Nothing wrong

I have holidayed without my DD at least once a year since she was about 10 months old. I also go on holiday with her, but they are two very different types of breaks. If you have the opportunity to do it, I highly recommend it.

These posts always bring out the martyrs who haven't been away from their kids for more than 18 seconds since they were born...

Why is it being a martyr if you’re doing something you actually want to do and are happy doing it?

each to their own. I didn’t go on holiday without mine when they were little. Not because I was a martyr but because I didn’t want to. I had loads of holidays before they came along and plenty now that they’re older.

I found attitudes like those of@PictureALadybirdextremely odd. Why care what other people are doing?!

It's a form of mummy oneupmanship. Men never care what other men do.

Assumed she was being sarcastic, or at least hoped....

We go away for two nights as a couple for our anniversary each year while my parents have my children. They enjoy going to their grandparents and in the school holidays normally stay there for at least a couple nights anyway

Next month I am going away for a weekend with my best friend while the children stay at home with dad. I'm a sahm while husband works very long shifts and sometimes has to stay over night in different locations for training, so the children are really looking forward to having a weekend with dad in charge. My husband works every other weekend so it's always me around at the weekends.

We go away as a family for 1 or 2 short UK breaks a year that are really child friendly e.g. Butlins or haven