Am I abandoning my children by going away?

[TravelBugMum]

Hi. I have just resigned from my job of 20 years and finally have an opportunity to fulfil my desire to travel.
My children are both now settled in secondary school, years 7 & 8, ages 11 and 13.
I want to travel by myself for 2 months (9 weeks) as you can't take this amount of time off while you are working.
My husband of 14 years will be at home with the kids. But he is not happy & says I will be "psychologically damaging them for the rest of their lives if I go away for 9 weeks and abandoning them" . He is just about OK with 4 weeks away, but I don't feel this is long enough for Australia and New Zealand ( which he has no desire to visit.). We are working on a compromise...
What is the risk of me hurting my children by doing this?
i have talked to them both to explain why i want to go, but understand it is difficult for them to be honest with me. They dont want to upset me by telling me not to go.
Has any other mum done this?
Am I being " selfish and not a good mum" by wanting to go?
How can I reduce the risk of my children feeling abandoned ?
Please help.

I think if you explain to them why you need that time, it should be ok, it's only 9 weeks out of a life time. My ex partner was away for longer periods of time due to different reasons but my children where fine just with me. If you feel that this is justified and that they would be well cared for in your absence then I would say go for it.

I’m not sure children of that age, or any age for that matter would be ok with their mother wanting such an extended break from them. It’s clearly telling them they’re not a priority. I wonder if op had kids young or was pressured into having them? The only women I know who’d do this definitely fit that criteria , very sad for all invoked, especially the kids. And although it’s not a popular opinion on Mumsnet kids absolutely want their mother over their father.