Worried about going away without the children

[twoboysandme]

My partner has just booked us a long weekend in Venice at the end of October (he's running the Venice marathon! I'm not...) We spent a lovely week in Venice before we had kids and it will be lovely to go back. HOWEVER I am already worried about leaving the boys, they will be looked after by their grandparents for the 4 nights who are lovely and keen to do it, no worries there. It's just that DS1 (5) is and always has been fairly clingy with me, we have been away for one night at a time before and he's always said how much he missed me and didn't want me to go, etc. Last Christmas DP and I left the boys at grandparents for Boxing night and the day after as we were both working and that seems to be all he remembers about Christmas! We try and build good relationships with the grandparents on both sides but DS1 especially is quite insular and just happy to be with me and his dad and brother. DS2 will be rising 2 when we go and I think will be ok once he's got used to the new routine - also he adores DS1 so that will help. If I'm honest it's really DS1 I'm worried about. Have just had a minor argument with DP about it as he is miffed I'm not more excited about the whole thing! Anyone else done this with clingy-ish children and if so, any tips to try and prepare the ground? Sorry if rambling on - feeling so worried about the whole thing - want to start looking forward to it! Thanks.

Promise the boys a nice present upon your return and off you go and have a nice time. Everyone will benefit. Your lovely boys will appreciate you even more when you get back, the GP's will feel wonderfully useful and you'll have even more to give having had some lovely time out.

Thanks rosie. I know I will enjoy the break and rationally that the Ds's will be fine. I just also know that I'll feel so guilty, and a bit worried that DS1 will spend the whole time telling his GPs that he'd rather be with me/us! Still I've got 6 months to get used to the idea... Thanks again for replying.

4 nights is a lot if you havnt gone before. we do 2 nts every november and find that is enough for us all.

Is there any chance you could leave DS1 at his GPs house overnight for just one night a few times before you go to Venice? Get him used to being with them and vice versa. Like a special 'big boy sleepover'. My sons do this regularly and it has helped hugely in getting their own relationship with GPs so when we do want to go away by ourselves, they are more excited about staying with granny than sad about mummy going away.

I assume if DS is 5 then he is in Reception at school now? By the time he has done a few weeks of Y1 and is no longer in the 'baby class', he will be cock o'the walk and glad to get rid of his 'interfering' mum and dad (well, thats what mine were like!!)