Home » Outdoor & Recreation » Family Travel » Leaving the kids at home

Leaving the kids at home

© Lain Ehmann

I hate to admit it, but in the five years I've been a mom, I can count on one hand the number of times my husband and I actually got away for that "weekend getaway." Somehow, it just never seems to happen. The logistics make planning such a weekend an absolute nightmare:

*Who do we dump - er, leave -- the kids with? *Where do we go that's far enough away to get a good break, but still close enough that we can get home if there's an emergency? *How do we get over the guilt of leaving them behind? *And once we get over the guilt, how do we force ourselves to come home again? (just kidding!)

According to a recent article at www.kidshealth.org, "vacationing without [your kids] can actually be good for the entire family." Namely, leaving the kids behind gives them the chance to see that parents have a relationship away from the family, and they also get to "enjoy special time with another relative or caregiver."

Most parents need little encouragement that a break would be good for them and their spouse; they need to know their kids will be okay in their absence. So here are some tips to make your temporary split easier on the children and, therefore, more enjoyable for you:

*Prepare yourself and your kids for the event. Start small with, say, a night away at a local hotel. This will allow the kids and the caregiver-to-be a chance to get to know each other. Your elderly Aunt Mabel may find that your three-year-old triplets are fine for an afternoon, but simply too much to handle for more than a few hours. It's better to find that out before you depart on your three-week trip to Nepal.

*Talk about the separation and what it means with your children. Let them know where you'll be going, how long you'll be gone, and what they can expect at the babysitter's. This is where the promise of a souvenir (even a postcard or two from the hotel's giftshop, or an after-dinner mint) works wonders.

*If your kids aren't already on a fairly regular schedule, start moving them towards more structure. That structure - bedtimes, naptimes, mealtimes - will not only help your babysitter handle the kids, it will also help the kids adapt to a new environment.

*Make a list of do's and don't's and other must-have info for your sitter, including food, rules, television, playdates, etc. The more information you leave, the lower the chance you'll get a call while you're relaxing on the beach with a maitai!