Husband and I signed up for a marriage retreat a few months ago with our church. It was this past weekend. We left on Thursday morning and just got home last night. It was at Disney!! First time since our honeymoon nearly 13 years ago that we have gone away just us. First time we've EVER left the kids! My mom drove in to keep them for us. I was nervous and feeling guilty at first leaving them, but y'all, I was so wonderful! We had the best time! I think we'll plan at least one weekend every year that just the 2 of us get away. Do any of you leave the kids and go away from time to time? What have been your favorite getaways?
Yes, we do....at least once a year. It's definitely good to get away just the two of us or with our group of friends. The last couple of years we've gone to Reno, NV with a group of friends for the Italian Festival. But, we've done the beach, Tahoe, our local mountain areas....we also both get away with our friends individually. Recently I went with my girlfriends to the beach. In January he went with his buddies to the mountains. My girlfriends and I have even done Disney a few times without hubbies and kids. It's really the best way to do Disney.
Sounds like you two had a great time and that's so important! DH and I got married young and we were not exactly rich when we had our first child. (He was in grad school, which actually paid him, but it wasn't a ton of money.) So we couldn't afford vacations, plus he couldn't leave school for that long. It was just a fact of our life. Then he did a post doc and, again, it paid little and didn't give lots of vacay time. So the only times DH and I have been away from our kids was the 2 times we moved cross-country and had to go house-hunting. (Each trip was 3 days/2 nights.) And technically I spent 2 nights away from DD when I gave birth to DS. DH stayed in the room with me, but since the baby was also there I guess you can't count that as "time away from the kids"? Plus DD never took a bottle so there was basically a full year I couldn't leave her for more than an hour. We have always lived far away from my parents (the only people we'd trust to watch the kids for an overnight--ILs watched our kids when we did our last house-hunting trip and DH said "never again," so at least we're on the same page), and if they're visiting I don't want to leave for a day or two cuz then I don't get to see my parents (my dad still works full-time so he visits once a year or maybe 2x if he gets a surprise long weekend and plane ticket prices are low). But we do day trips, or even just a coffee date. (Last time my mom was here, DH and I did a "locked room" as our date. IDK if you're familiar with them but you solve a series of puzzles in order to find a key to unlock the door and you've got only an hour to do it. Then we went to a local brewery and just hung out in a place that doesn't allow kids. Sweet!) When you only get a date a few times a year, for us the "where" doesn't really matter cuz we're just happy to be alone together. But we did find a good babysitter and she lives close enough that she can walk here. Yippee! But we do try to make a date night at home once a month, even if it's just making a dessert just for the two of us and playing a board game or Wii. Actually we're due for a "non falling-asleep-in-front-of-the-TV" night!
Good for you!!! That is awesome!! The hubs and I don't get away very often. The last time we had a trip alone was 2011 when we had a couple of days in NY after my first grad school graduation. For the past couple of weeks we've been talking about it though. Later in the year, we may be taking a trip to Australia (so I can finally meet Don and Jules of Sissy Sparrows ... and spend time with him). We could definitely use time to reconnect and escape from the day-to-day routine... probably him more than me. He's been in quite a rut lately, and I'm getting a mini-break in 30 days!
DH and I did this once when he finally finished his degree. I took him to Indy for an NFL game. We did when my oldest was almost 1 and I was about to go back to work and we spent a week in London. However, since that time 7 years ago, we haven't. We do date nights around home but we don't live particularly close to good weekend getaways. I also love to travel but also want to show my kids all the wonderful things in this world and they will be gone soon enough and we'll vacation on our own
oooooooooooooh we just came from a 3 day 2 night get away! My oldest and dear DIL stayed with our kids! The older boys put in tile in my kitchen! lol good thing and my kids had a blasT! It was by far the most relaxing time for me and hubby. We ate things we shouldn't (donuts) laughed, shopped, snuggled and watched fun movies together. I restarted homeschool this morning, and having the joy of the past weekend made it so calm for me! yeah!
I'm so glad you got to do that, Jordan!!! I loved seeing your pictures from the weekend on FB. Keith and I try to, but it doesn't happen very often. The last time we tried to get away and spent a weekend in Albuquerque when my mom visited us in El Paso. Keith ended up being sick the whole weekend...boo! But, it all worked out because he needed rest desperately and I still enjoyed resting and reading lots of books myself. We hoped to be able to get a weekend to ourselves before he leaves for Korea, but I highly doubt that will happen...maybe when he returns. That time away to focus on you and your marriage relationship is so important! I'm glad you got to enjoy and awesome weekend away and at DISNEY no less!
How awesome Jo! I'm so glad you were able to do that and that it was so fun! My hubby and I are very fortunate that both sets of parents live nearby. We get date nights fairly often. We've even been able to take a week long vacation twice now and my parents watched the boys for us. That was awesome, but some of time I kinda wished they were there with us.
That sounds wonderful! We were married for 9 years before my son joined our family, so we did a lot of getaways back then. We did a 4 day cruise and left my son when he was 1 with family (my parents and the in-laws live about 2 miles apart). Other than that, we have stay-cations where my son spends a night or two at one of the grandparents, and we stay home and chill. Once or twice we've stayed at a hotel, but we usually stay at home. We have the same problem of wanting to take our kid to see and experience, so it's harder to plan a vacation without him.
That's the thing with us. We have always been far from family and I won't leave the kids with anyone else for more than a few hours. And even that makes me nervous, because it's usually basically a stranger that we've just met, because we only just moved to whatever town were in. We don't really ever even do date nights. They are most always "date nights in" that involves a bowl of popcorn and a movie that is often interrupted by a sweet little voice. I've not heard of a "locked room" but it sounds interesting. I'll have to do some research!
When you go to Australia, post lots of pics so I can live vicariously. lol. My husband has always wanted to go and it looks amazing!
London sounds like a wonderful getaway! And I agree. We have been lucky enough to move often and see so many amazing places. We always take advantage of travel opportunity with the kids. But we brought them to Disney in the fall, and we're bringing them again in April. That was what the boys' asked for as a birthday gift, so I didn't feel guilty at all about being there without them this time. But, usually I would.
That sounds amazing Anne! Of course we ate too much "bad" for you food, but we enjoyed every bite! I started my "Disney Detox" yesterday. lol. And how did I not realize you were a homeschooling mama too?! It is exhausting, but incredibly rewarding, is it not?
It's so hard when family is far away! That's terrible that he was sick last time!! But glad you both at least were able to rest and enjoy some quiet time, if nothing else. I hope y'all are at least able to get away for a few date nights before he leaves.
Yes. Mom guilt. Sigh. I missed mine, but didn't feel too terrible since we had just brought them a few months ago and have another Disney trip planned for April with them. I guess that's the perk of it just being a 6 hour drive from us. I'm sure we'll go twice a year at least as long as we live here.
I think it is wonderful to make memories that are just the two of you!! Now that hubby is working over seas from us and only come home three times a year, there is no way we could have our own vacation. Hopefully when this project ends and hubby is back home with us we can schedule one!
homeschooling is the scariest thing I have ever done! lol I actually was on a hiatus! lol I homeschooled my 4 oldest, (one graduated at 16 and he finishes college this semester at 19) (my girls graduated this year and are working, they don't want to do college yet)my second son(now 17) wanted to go to high school play football yada yada, we let him..HORRible!! but he has to finish (he is doing way better) to get his diploma for military entrance. such is life. my three youngest were in public school and I have fought and kicked to get support for them in school. I managed to get an IeP for oneDS11 (he is staying in public for 2 years due to the intense help he is receiving for learning) The other two (9and 7) came home yesterday! lol It was AWEsome! and I am detoxing too, so so much water yesterday! we should have a little area of the pad for HSers!
Your trip sounds wonderful - both fun, especially the relationship time, and a vacation! We hope to actually go on a vacation within the next year! We do have overnight trips, and my parents watch our boys! It makes it super easy. We all meet up at the shore house usually, and head out, then return in the morning. The shore house is easier, since they have things/shared bedroom and it's like being at home. We've been on family cruises with my family, and that usually includes time to ourselves. We hope to take one next year, just us, for us, and for our 15th Anniversary. I do have to say, as they get older and more independent, it is way easier. For me, and for my parents who watch them.
Good for you! I think it is very important to do this! Me and my hubby's anniversary is coming up on April 5th it will be 30 years for us. We have only gone away 2 times. Only reason is cost why we have not gone on more. AND lets face it we had 6 children who is going to come and watch that many kids so we can go away!? BUT we always made a point of having one date a week even if it is going out for 'coffee'. Our children had a bed time and they knew they needed to be in their rooms at that time. They didn't need to be sleeping but they had to say in their rooms. WE always explained that this was mommy and daddy time to keep our marriage strong. They understood and there was never an issue. You need to remember that you were a couple before the children came along and before you know it your children will be grown and you hate to look at your partner and realize your heart does not go pitter patter for this person any longer. Please keep the magic alive! So keep up what your doing and make sure you always make time for each other!!
