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Georgia Babies
Visits to Grandparents
Has anyone let your DC stay with Grandparents for an extended time? How old where they? How long did they stay away? Biggest issues/problems?
Danielle is going to stay with BOTH sets of grandparents this summer for a week. I'm really so nervous, but she is excited (at least right now). I'm of course more nervous about her staying with the ILs, mainly because they are a flight away and not a car ride. Any tips to making it easy/better?
TIA
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Re: Visits to Grandparents
This was something I, as a kid, looked forward to every summer! I stayed one week with each of my Grandparents. Ahhhh, the memories were wonderful!
We typically do, what we call "Grandparent Camp" now for one week with each set of Grandparents (one set in OH and another in NJ). They haven't been back to back yet. Just a couple weeks during the summer months. This summer, my parents are going to Europe so they aren't able to do it. So we sent them to my DH's parents (in NJ) for 2 weeks!! We are currently on day 3 of the two weeks.
To be honest, I had my reservations about 2 weeks away but so far it's going swimmingly!
To answer some of your questions:
This year, DD: 3 and DS is 1 but we did this starting when DD was 1. No problems so far. They seem to be having lots of fun. We skpye every night so they can see us and we can see them. We flew them up and will fly them back down when we go get them. We were there for a long weekend so Grandma and Grandpa could see our typical routine. Grandma was totally prepared with high chair, toys from yard sales, pack and play for the youngster, sunscreen, diapers, wipes, food. We just bought the kiddies, shoes, clothes and lots of swim stuff!
Seriously, I loved going as a kid and it warms my heart that my kids are getting to experience their grandkids without us parents around. Plus, it has been a nice break for the DH and I. We have lots of date nights and movies planned! Next year we are hoping to take a trip ourselves while the kids are away. Fingers crossed we can save up to go international!!
I just had to go on deployment for work for 7 weeks and my husband work schedule is crazy so we sent LO to the grandparents. She spent 3.5 weeks with my mom and then 3.5 weeks with my ILs. We skyped a lot and they took her to visit extended family. Luckily for us, she's a pretty easygoing baby, so she adjusted well. And she absolutely loved skyping when my schedule would allow, plus I was able to fly up to visit twice. It was exponentially harder on me than on her, but the adjustment to being at home has been rough. She's been sick twice since being back at daycare because she's not used to the germies, and she is no longer able to put herself to sleep so I have to rock or hold her.
The best advice is to make the best use of your time off. Even though I was working insane hours on deployment, I did splurge on a massage or two and went out for drinks with friends a few times. It was nice to be off duty, but I was so excited to see her again.
I am flying the kids to my parents next week and dropping them off for 9 days! I cant wait! Easton has stayed a week before and they both stayed for a long weekend last September. This is the longest my parents will have both kids, but honestly, if my parents were retired, I would leave them for longer! Maybe I sound like a bad mom, but I miss the time DH and I had alone. I love the kids, but we need a break! I am staying one night to get them acclimated since Ellie Brooke really doesnt know them very well and then I am flying back here and DH and I are heading to Mexico for a week! It is a PITA to fly them up there and then fly them back, but my parents love it, the kids get to see great grandma and extended family and I dont worry a bit when they are with them.
Enjoy the break!
Yes, this will be the 3rd summer the kids have done this. They stay a week at each of the grandparents homes.
My mom lives in MD. We planned the trip to coincide with a graduation we were attending and drove the kids up there. Then my mom flew back with both kids. They were both terrific for her on the plane no fussing nothing. If it were me they would have been crying or hitting the entire time.
The 2nd week in July they will be staying with my MIL in Florida for a week too. We will drive them down stay the night and then drive back. On the return trip they will meet us half way.
The kids really seem to enjoy it, the grandparents do too. We will continue this tradition as long as we can. It also gives us a break since we have no family close by.
Both grandparents have lots of activities planned. Sometimes they go to themed parks, local museums, parks and mommy play groups at the mall and then they also plan do nothing stay at home days too. They do some gardening, art etc...They always have a blast.
Don't forget to make copy of insurance cards to give to them with your permission for them to sign on your behalf.
I would do it in a heartbeat. My grandparents were local but I stayed with them during the summer all summer because I have aunts from both sides that were still in school. It was the most fun and I have amazing memories of being around my grandparents and extended family.
Since both of our parents are close, before P was born, we would let him stay with one of the grandparents for the weekend and once a month or so and switch it up and both Derek and our parents loved it so much. Now that P is sttn, we'll probably start doing that again and it'll give us some time to reconnect.