How do I tell my kids?

[ozmum23]

We have two DS age 10 and 5. Since DS1 was born, we have never gone away without them on holidays. My parents in law have offered to come to our house to look after them so DH and I can go away together.
The thing is I feel very excited at the thought of an adults only holiday, but how do I tell my boys? They like the grandparents so that won't be an issue.
I feel like I am letting my kids down.

You tell ds1 that you and his dad are having some adult time to yourselves because you haven't had any child free time in 10 years and you tell ds2 that he will have a lovely time being spoiled at home by his grandparents.

Ds1 is old enough to know you are going away, and don't beat yourself up, you both work hard in your family, but what is the point if you never get to enjoy each other company away from those responsibilities.

Have a lovely time

Big up the grandparents coming to stay, and that you can only do it because they're such good big boys. I'm sure they'll have a fab time, and hope you can relax so you can too. How long are you away for?

Thanks for answering :)
We r planning to be away for a week.
antsypants you're right, ds1 is old enough to understand
I am getting very excited (like waiting for Xmas) thinking about a diving holiday!

They will have a ball! I really wouldn't worry! Just make sure the grandparents have free rein to spoil them and they'll be booking your next holiday for you! Whenever we were in the care of other family members as kids we had a blast...ice cream, staying up a bit later, watching films....they'll miss you, but they'll have fun. You've earned a break so get packing

Can't wait for mine to be old enough for someone to volunteer to have them for a week!!

Make it less about you and dh going away on holiday - I wouldn't mention the word 'holiday' or they will think they are missing out - and more about how exciting, grandma and grandad want to come and look after you and play with you for a few days. Dh and I went to Paris for 4 days when ds1 had just turned 3yo, we made it more about him having fun with grandparents for a few days and he was okay about it.

Sorry, I misread your dc's ages and thought they were younger. They will obviously understand that you are having a holiday away from them, but you can still make a big deal of the 'fun with grandparents for a week' and explain that grandma and grandad really want to spend some more time with them.

You focus your explanation on your DSs: "Guess what?! You are going to have Nan and Pops look after you soon! Wow, you'll have such a great time - you know how they love looking after you and how much fun you have with them… " etc etc

Then say that DH and you are going to be away for a few days - I agree with not calling it a holiday. Maybe say you are going to go to see a lot of museums?

Don't project your feelings of guilt (and why feel guilty? Are you not allowed to want to have a life of your own as soon as you've become a parent?) on your DSs - they are likely to have a ball.

Enjoy your break

DS (4) had a lovely exciting holiday with Grandma and Grandad this spring; he went to the dinosaur museum AND the zoo AND Grandma and Grandad bought him an enormous hideousstuffed snake that is his best cuddly ever AND went on a tube train AND rided his bike in the park with Grandad- it was all SO "inciting"!

I don't think it registered that much where Mummy and DP were Morocco

We recently left DTs (6) with their grandparents for a couple of nights away. DD begged us to go for a week. They thought it was an enormous treat. They did enjoy emailing us while we were away, but were very happy the whole time. As were we!