All of this "never gone away" stuff has me thinking...

laughteriskey

again about Joe's good friend.  He has two daughters, 8 and 6.  He has put them to bed every night since they were born, with the exception of one night (his friend's wedding).

Seriously, every single night for 8 years.

They just left for Italy last week with his wife and MIL and are there until end of August.  He is so lost without them.

No point other than I don't think EK is so different than most.  A lot of people never vacation and/or sleep other than their beds.

 

joseysbride

It is hard for me to imagine just because my family isn't near me, so we go visit them quite often, and stay overnight.

But aside from that, we really haven't taken the kids on many "real" vacations.  Whenever we are able to go somewhere, it is to see family.  We have gone away on our own for a weekend, though, and Rory stays at her grandparents' house (they live here) once every couple months for a night.

Rebekah1021

I have a cousin who won't let her kids sleep anywhere, but home. They don't even take naps in the car or at their gma's or anything. They finally went on a vacation and left the kids at home and had her parents stay at their house for the week.

She said they never went on family vacations growing up for the same reason.

emilykristene2006

DH started the bedtime routine from 10 months on (he put DD to bed every night). She was 2 I think before I gave her a bath other than having an accident during the day. Now he gives both of the kids a bath and we each put one to bed. He hates it if he has to work late and does not get to see the kids before bed. So do the kids.

I know I didn't have to justify why we have never gone away with the kids yet. It was just odd that so many thought it was such a big deal that some families just don't do it. I'd never get a baby sitter off of craigslist, but I won't judge those that do. We sit at the table as a family every night for dinner, but I won't judge those that don't.

I guess some people feel the need. 

veloelle

I think it's great he's been there for his girls. I honestly can't relate. I get cabin fever after being home one day w/out going somewhere. I really look forward to exposing my kids to different places and instill a love of travel. But DH and I typically flew 20-50,000 miles a year before DD, when he worked for an airline.

There is someone in my life who never goes on vacation w/ her kids. Never goes on weekend trips, camping, nothing. And honestly, it breaks my heart that her kids never.go.anywhere. The only time they go anywhere is when the grandparents take them. And each time, they have such an amazing time. When we were kids, my parents typically went on a weekend trip for their anniversary, and we'd do a weekend trip as a family, and every few years a major vacation.

DH's brother went 10 years w/out taking a vacation; he does not have kids. He was fine w/ it, but I'd be crawling out of my skin. He has a very specific vision of his life, money, etc. Vacation wasn't a priority.

jessicaclare

I don't necessarily think ek is way out of the norm, but it does make me grateful for the opportunities we have to get away with and without the kids. We often think about moving to get away from our family drama, but I know we'd be lost without all our convenient babysitters!

 We are also very fortunate that my dad has a lake house about a 3 hour drive from here, so we started taking both girls away at around 2 months. 

grja

emilykristene2006:

I'd never get a baby sitter off of craigslist, but I won't judge those that do. We sit at the table as a family every night for dinner, but I won't judge those that don't.

This is us too! Dinner time is really important to us. So many people make fun of us for it, but it's just something we enjoy doing.

emilykristene2006

grja:

emilykristene2006:

I'd never get a baby sitter off of craigslist, but I won't judge those that do. We sit at the table as a family every night for dinner, but I won't judge those that don't.

This is us too! Dinner time is really important to us. So many people make fun of us for it, but it's just something we enjoy doing.

We get made fun of, too!

Zenya

Rebekah1021:

I have a cousin who won't let her kids sleep anywhere, but home. They don't even take naps in the car or at their gma's or anything. They finally went on a vacation and left the kids at home and had her parents stay at their house for the week.

She said they never went on family vacations growing up for the same reason.

I fear that makes her mentally ill. 

Zenya

emilykristene2006:

DH started the bedtime routine from 10 months on (he put DD to bed every night). She was 2 I think before I gave her a bath other than having an accident during the day. Now he gives both of the kids a bath and we each put one to bed. He hates it if he has to work late and does not get to see the kids before bed. So do the kids.

What does that have to do with vacation time? 

Zenya

grja:

This is us too! Dinner time is really important to us. So many people make fun of us for it, but it's just something we enjoy doing.

Who on earth makes fun of you for having a family dinner.  Seriously.  Unless you're saying it means that you won't go out to dinner b/c it's not at your dinner table.  Family dinners are totally normal. 

emilykristene2006

Zenya:

emilykristene2006:

DH started the bedtime routine from 10 months on (he put DD to bed every night). She was 2 I think before I gave her a bath other than having an accident during the day. Now he gives both of the kids a bath and we each put one to bed. He hates it if he has to work late and does not get to see the kids before bed. So do the kids.

What does that have to do with vacation time? 

The first paragraph in this post! Jodi had an example of someone who did it for eight years. 

Rebekah1021

Zenya:

Rebekah1021:

I have a cousin who won't let her kids sleep anywhere, but home. They don't even take naps in the car or at their gma's or anything. They finally went on a vacation and left the kids at home and had her parents stay at their house for the week.

She said they never went on family vacations growing up for the same reason.

I fear that makes her mentally ill. 

I remember when she was so surprised that we took DD to Cancun and let her nap on the beach. I figure if she's tired she will sleep. I am just one of those people who has to leave the house and I just assume take DD with me.

Zenya

aha!  That makes more sense

emilykristene2006

Zenya:

aha!  That makes more sense

I had to go back and re-read it. I thought I commented on the wrong post or something (which is possible). I am a little stressed packing, ya know 

veloelle

Study after study has shown that sitting down to a family meal is one of the important things you can do for your kids. They can depend on that time to talk, etc. I can't imagine making fun of that. We had dinner everynight as kids, and we do the same in this house.

camrude

jessicaclare:

I don't necessarily think ek is way out of the norm, but it does make me grateful for the opportunities we have to get away with and without the kids. We often think about moving to get away from our family drama, but I know we'd be lost without all our convenient babysitters!

 

Exactly this.

Angela814

I just can't imagine it because we've stayed away from home so many times. Between both of our families, we have 3 lake cottages that we visit during the weekends in the summers. Then my parents live 1 1/2 hrs away so we usually spend the night when we go there. I think we spend a few nights there every Christmas. So even without taking any real vacations, we still end up sleeping places other than home.