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Leaving the kids!


Kim&N8

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Hey guys! Curious how others deal with the parent guilt of leaving the kids at home? Were headed out on Symphony in March 2019 for an adults vaca and I am really struggling with the leaving the kids at home. This isn't something new, we went on Adventure in 2016 and left them home. Just wondering how other parents write off the guild part of vacationing with out the kids.

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Haha!!! On a cruise right now without ours! It's great. I highly recommend it! We've been leaving ours once a year since they were little. We are blessed that my parents have the patience to watch them. 

The guilt? I just tell myself I deserve it for all the time I do put in with them at home. And our deal is that we FaceTime with them...so the wifi package is non-negotiable.

Hubby said it just takes practice, you'll get use to it ?

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haha! yes I'm very lucky to have parents who keep ours also. I think I'm feeling more of the guilt because were going on Symphony and it has so much kid stuff! Last cruise was Adventure before the dry dock that added all the cool stuff so it was a very adultish ship. Now I just want to take them to experience it all ? Also my big one is 12 little is 5 so they are way cooler to experience these things with then when they were smaller 

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Just now, Kim&N8 said:

haha! yes I'm very lucky to have parents who keep ours also. I think I'm feeling more of the guilt because were going on Symphony and it has so much kid stuff! Last cruise was Adventure before the dry dock that added all the cool stuff so it was a very adultish ship. Now I just want to take them to experience it all ? Also my big one is 12 little is 5 so they are way cooler to experience these things with then when they were smaller 

Tell them you are checking it out to see if it suits them ?

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@twangster for sure!  I used to travel a lot for work so I’ve been around half the world with out the kids seen lots of cool things and left them home ? I think it all plays into what makes me feel bad. We’re already booked and prices for symphony have sored since we booked. I’m looking at feb break 2020 as maybe a future kids cruise 

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Maybe I should feel "guilty" for saying this but I think parents need some time off away from their kids. Every couple needs some "me" time. As a grand parent, I often tell my kids that they should go on vacation and leave their kids with us. As long as you leave your kids in capable hands while you're gone, there's nothing to feel guilty about!

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8 hours ago, twangster said:

 

IMO it's healthy to have kids learn the world doesn't end if you leave for a few days, provided you have taken the appropriate measures to have someone look after them.  

^^^^this exactly! 

Funny story about DCL cruising with grandparents..:this past December we took a family cruise, my sisters and their families and my parents. There were 14 of us, 6 kids under 12. We brought my parents and thought how great it would be to have an extra set of eyes lol. As soon as we got on board, we barley saw them! We joke about it but they deserve it, they help us so much. 

 

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Be thankful for having parents who are willing and/or able to take care of the kids.  We do not have any support and both of our parents are not willing nor able to handle them for a week away.  I am worried about leaving them for a 3 night cruise next May.  I have a few options:  1. leave it to the oldest 2 are old enough to take care of the younger ones,  2. Pay and fly a cousin in town,  or 3. Hire a babysitter to help.  

We brought my MIL on our last cruise and figured she'd share a room with our oldest.  Little did we know, Grandma was a huge snorer so it didn't work out like we expected and we had to switch things around.  As others have said, she really wasn't a help as she spent most of her time in the spa or casino.  It was fine as everyone had a good time.   

The beauty of a cruise is that you can get family time and adult only time on a vacation thanks to AO.  To us it is the best of both worlds which is why it is my vacation of choice.

 

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heck my parents were very frequent cruisers back in the 70's and 80's and i NEVER got to go on a cruise with them.   In fact, my wife and I didn't first cruise until about 7 years ago after we got married and paid for it ourselves..     We took our two teenage boys on their first cruise a couple years back and they loved it.   Our biggest issues isn't the cost necessarily but rather finding a reasonable rate to take them along when it doesnt interfere with school.      Subsequently, when we first took them it was in October and i pulled them out of school.   Our 7th grader at the time didnt have any issues but our Freshmen son struggled horribly (his own fault) with making up what he missed.    Long and short of it all, i don't feel guilty.  Parents need their alone time as well.  

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I actually found that a cruise is my very best way to vacation without kids.  I've always been the kind of parent who even when we did leave the kids for a getaway always felt the need to check in and make sure everythings ok.  So I thought that not having as much connection with them over a cruise it would be really hard.

Total opposite happened!!  As soon as we were out of cell range I was like...Well, now the grandparents are in control.  Anything that happens they'll have to deal with.  They did just fine and it was the most relaxed I've ever been without kids!!  Enjoy!!

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We took our first cruise without the kids (ages 5 & 1) this past June. We had no guilt even though it was the first time to be away from the little one. It's necessary to get away from the kids and reconnect with your spouse in order to be a better parent. Just think of it as recharging your batteries so you can be there more for your kids.

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21 hours ago, jurrjurr said:

That guilt will disappear after that first drink on board!

Haha yes I think so! Drink package has been confirmed for us ? also asked hubby to promise me one early am sunrise on the balcony (he liked to sleep in so this is a big agreement for him LOL). 

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My wife and I will be taking our first cruise without the kids in October, and first vacation of any sort without them in about 15 years. And since they'll be 18 and almost 15, we're leaving them in charge of the house while we're gone! ?

They're both very responsible and we know they won't burn the house down or throw any wild parties. And the grandparents are only 15 minutes away, so if something truly bad happens they'll be able to help out. But it'll still be a little nerve-wracking when the ship is sailing away; I'll be rapidly downing a couple of margaritas that day, for sure!

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Just remember for all of you leaving kidlets with Grandma & Grandpa, maybe a little reciprocal vaca as a thanks?!?!

I love my grandkids more than anything in the world but having them for days at a time is a lot of work.  I would NEVER say no but just because I say yes doesnt mean it isnt a lot to take on whilst you reconnect!

Of course maybe its my grandkids, crazy monkeys all of them!!!

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