Have you been on a Kid Free Vacation? We have and last month, we went on our third trip!
This post was originally written on June 7, 2016.
Tomorrow, D and I are heading to New Orleans for our first kid free vacation since C was born last summer. It’s a trip he earned (working hard and long hours) through his company. We went last year to Miami, when C was in utero. And before that, we went on a five day trip to the Dominican Republic when A was 18 months old. We traveled a lot before kids and we knew we always wanted to make it a priority in our lives.
We’re lucky to have a strong support system that we even have the luxury of going on kid free vacations. To say that I am thrilled would be an understatement. But, in the midst of it all there a range of emotions I’ve felt leading up to travel day. And I wholeheartedly believe that you have or will feel the same if you ever have the opportunity to go on a kid free vacation. It isn’t my first time away and still, I’m all sorts of emotions about all of it.
1.) Excitement for Basic Needs to be Met
Oh sweet, sweet sleep. Yes, hands down, the thing we are looking forward to most, is sleeping without being woken up, or waking up knowing that we can just go right back to sleep. Sleeping in past 8am? What is this notion?! And oh my gosh, eating an entire meal in one sitting? Eating food while it’s hot and fresh? Going to the bathroom without someone barging in? Yes, I am all kinds of excited to be doing all of these life necessities, in peace and quiet, while all alone.
2.) Nervous about Spending Time Just Us
Sure, we have a couple of hours to ourselves after our kids go down for the night. But, most nights, D is passed out in the threenager’s bed or working and I’m hurriedly trying to get a load of laundry done or cleaning up the kitchen. Or on non-productive days, both of us are numbing our brains with Netflix on repeat. We don’t often go out on dates, so to have four days alone? Just us? I’m anxiously nervous and giddy for some major quality time with my husband. Butterflies? Oh yes, I feel like a 16 year old teenage girl going out on a first date!
3.) Guilt for Leaving the Kids
A the threenager LOVES swimming and traveling and riding on airpwanes. I definitely have guilt over not taking them with us (not an option!). I also have guilt for leaving TWO kids with my parents. But, I know they’re more than capable and love spending time with them. So I am trying my best to quiet the mom guilt voice talking to me incessantly as I’m packing my suitcase.
4.) Joy for Travel
I am a complete and total wanderlust. With or without kids, I love seeing different places and experiencing different cultures and foods. I love that I’ve never been to New Orleans before and I’ve heard so many exciting things about the city. Everyone tells me it’s a great place for a mini vacation and I can’t wait to enjoy it all! The sights, the sounds, the eats, and the people, I’m so happy to be able to experience it all.
5.) Relaxed and Ready to Enjoy it All
And the culmination of the roller coaster of emotions that is mama guilt. Above all else, I am already relaxed and know that time is so fleeting. I’m ready to enjoy it all and know that coming home to the boys will be that much sweeter after a long weekend to unwind and decompress. I’m looking forward to coming home refreshed and energized for daily parenting.
We are having a child free weekend in 1 week time… enjoy….
http://www.my-cutie-pie.com
I never have! I’d be so nervous with my kids being so young. They’re a lot to watch! I would like to go, though.
It’s been far too long since we had a kid free anything! Enjoy your break!
Good for you, mama! I struggle with recognizing that we need time just my husband and I, but the guilt is so strong for me! We are hoping to do one night at a bed and breakfast in the fall 🙂
I still remember the first time I left my first daughter. I cried all the way to the airport. As soon as I got on the plane, I relaxed and had the best weekend!
I don’t remember the last time hubby and I went on a trip alone. I think it’s been more than 5 years! I understand all the feelings but no need for guilt, it’s great for your marriage and you’re actually setting a great example to your kids by maintaining a happy marriage with some alone time! Enjoy the trip!
It’s so important to get that time and I don’t think we have ever really taken a kid free vacation. I feel like I should start planning one now lol. I will miss them the second I leave but it would be great to sleep.
I don’t have children do I don’t have to worry about that, but I bet it’s nice getting away from the for a while.
Xx,
Amanda || http://www.fortheloveofglitter.com
Oh my goodness, it does sound scary. I remember my husband and I went on a date by ourselves and had pretty much nothing to say! Maybe in the near future we’ll have to indulge ourselves.
#2 makes me nervous just reading it. I’m not sure that I know how to be alone with just my husband – what would we talk about, what do I say? It’s crazy how much our babies change our relationship with those nearest and dearest.
I think you nailed it! I have felt all of these feelings, too, and hope to have them again, soon, if hubby and I can take a quick getaway next month. (Fingers crossed!) Isn’t it lovely to feel the butterflies for each other? Enjoy! xo
We’ve never been away just the 2 of us and probably won’t until the kids are outta the house ????
We’re a little over a month away from our first real vacation without the kiddo and I’m SO excited! I’m sure I’m going to have all of these emotions… and also love the time. 🙂
I could only imagine the emotions that goes on with leaving kids home and taking a vacation but it’s definitely a much deserved “me” time.
Love it! I hope to take a kid free vacation when my baby is done nursing.
My husband keeps begging to go on a kid-free vacation but uhm, we have a 4-month-old. I keep telling him that I would literally have to pump for like, a month and then around the clock while we were there so it would just be horrible, ha! He doesn’t seem to get it though… but man, I think I would just love a SLEEP vacation!
We just did our first kid free vacation. This is spot on. However, there is the pesky stage of having your toddler punish you when you get back for leaving her… True story, two days after my husband and I came back from our trip, our daughter (20 months) started making herself throw up in the crib. How do I know she was making herself? Well I saw her shove her hands in her throat. She sat in it and laughed before I got her out to clean her up. This happened two nights in a row. I called my pediatrician wondering wth was going on and the pedi ran down a list of questions, “Does she have a fever? Rash?” Nope. Then said, “Well a lot of times this age group does this to let you know they are angry. Would she be mad at you for any reason?” I said, well we just got back from a trip without her. The pediatrician literally started laughing and said, “Well there ya have it.”
HAAHAH OMG!! they are so clever!!