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Washington Babies
Do/would you leave DC overnight?
One of my daycare dad's (of 2 yr old twins) came in this morning to drop off and said "Where's Gage?" (I'm already annoyed because I know where he's getting at at this point cause he does this quite a bit). I replied "He stayed the night at my mom's last night because we went to the Ms game." Then he looked at me like I had two heads and said "Do you like that?? We've NEVER left them with anyone!" in a we-are-much-better-parents tone. I told him that yes we do like it and Gage LOVES it at my parents and asked him what they do if they have somewhere to go (like an Ms game, wedding, etc) and he said "We just don't go!" I just smiled and left it at that. But in my head I really wanted to scream "Don't judge me because my husband and I have a life!! You're just jealous because you've been sitting at home for 2 1/2 years!!!!"
Maybe I'm just grumpy or maybe it's because we've been going around and around in my group of friends with the "take your child everywhere with you" issue.
Oh the joys of multiple parenting styles! To each his own! 
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Do/would you leave DC overnight?
Well I for one am jealous of your situation! Cruz doesn't sleep well anywhere but home so unless dh and I leave home for the night we just have my folks babysit late (which is ok because they don't go to bed until 3 or 4 anyway)
I would love to be able to have some peaceful mornings at home every now and then, but no such luck!
We left Ben the first time when he was about 20 months I think. But we don't have parents here locally. So my mom flew up here to stay with Ben for 3 days while DH and I went to Vegas. She came up another time this spring and stayed with him while we went to Victoria.
If she lived here, we'd definitely leave him with her if we had places to go out late/overnight. Although probably for an M's game or something like that, I'd just have someone come here and babysit.
I think it's awesome that Gage is so comfortable that he'll stay there and his sleep is fine and all. It must be great to have such a good option for late night stuff and to get a break.
The only time we haven't been with DD at night was when I was in the hospital after I had Gavin. She was in our home and the grandparents stayed with her. But, she's never slept in another place without us. I look forward to the night when grandparents take them for a night so we can have some fun. Neither set has ever offered, and we've never asked.
Part of me is proud that I've never left her overnight with anyone (other than the hospital), but the other part of me is insanely jealous of parents who have people in their life that do this on a regular basis!
Baby website / My blog
We left DS at 7 months for 4 days to go to a wedding in Rhode Island. We left him For 10 days to go to South America on vacation. Plus a few days here and there on other occasions for weddings and whatnot. He's at my parents' house right now just to give me some free time to get stuff done. We do it all the time too Ashley - parents like us who can send their kids to family's houses are lucky this is why we live near family. I'm a better parent and SAHM when I get a break now and then.
Perhaps he has some underlying guilt issues having to put his kids in daycare that they don't want to leave them on other occasions. Does he realize the same argument could be made for his (I"m assuming) dual income household? Like you said to each his own.
Addison stays at my parents a lot - they're always calling to ask if she can spend the night!! I think they love it more than I like having a break
They're taking both girls for the first time over Labor Day weekend.
For me, it's great having a break but I also like the idea that they can nap/sleep anywhere. It makes things much easier for vacations, etc.
Well holy cow...like it's any of his business. I think it's great that you guys do that if that's what works for you.
For Jim and I - we've yet to leave Madelyn overnight simple because we're only together as a family 1 to 2 nights a week as it is...it's got to be something pretty special for us to not be with her. At least yet...I'm sure we'll get there.
I do have to go out of town for business in two weeks...that'll be the first time she sleeps without one of us there. She's staying with my FIL and S-MIL
That having been said, I often battle with my MIL who wants us to leave M at her house as often as she has had my niece. She has my niece at least 2 - 3 times a month.
For me, that's overkill - but that's just me...to each his own
I could not handle life without some time away!!
Even with Alex, I had a night away when he was 8 weeks old! And a couple nights a week by 4 months, and a full week vacation at 7 months!
I get a "mom vacation" as many times as I can!
Easter 2011
Norah was a little older (around 9 months) when she slept at my parents house..it was when we went to Vegas for a few nights...
Its not a rare occurrence for us or the kids...quite often Steves mom and dad will take Jacob for the weekend (they live in Shelton and dont get to see him as much as they'd like) ..or if we have plans that go later in the night my parents will take the kids and we'll just pick them up the next morning..
We've left Isabelle with my parents a couple time fully overnight, but she's not the best sleeper in the world so we usually just pick her up late. She's supposed to stay over night next Fri, but we will prob just pick her up at 1am again. My parents live about 5 mins away from us and always want to watch her. My mom actually told me she wants to quit her job and babysit Isa full time.
Good for you guys for getting out and enjoying each other sans baby!!
I have not yet, for two reasons:
I cannot wait to go out, w/ just my hubby, one day!
The only Easter Bunny I can get behind.
Maxwell Joseph 4/09 Lucy Violet 10/12
I think one of the pp's hit the nail on the head taht that dad is insecure about something and so is trying to prove (to himself probably) that he's the best dad.
I hate the holier than thou parents who act like there's only one "right" way to do something. Or the martyr parents who act like giving up their own needs makes them better or more attentive to their children.
People got on us for not leaving Ben earlier - and honestly I would have, but his sleeping was SOOOOO terrible from 6-18 months that I couldn't possibly have saddled anyone else with that.
My MIL asks for DD to spend the night at least twice a month (always on a week night), if not more. DD gets crazy tired and tantrummy the day after, but it's nice to be able to get the night alone.
My SIL takes Josephine on the weekends once in a while. I think she stopped asking because DD is starting to get into EVERYTHING and their house is not very child friendly. Still, I know if I need to do something on the weekend without DD, I can always ask her, even if DD doesn't spend the night.
Yes, Robbie has stayed with both sets of Grandparents at least once. So one time when he was 6 months old with my IL and one time last month with my parents. And he will this weekend with IL again.
We don't do it often just if we have something that will keep us out late a night. But I don't have any problems with it at all. We have friends who have their DD stay at Grandparents house 2 times per week. That seems crazy to me but it works for them so not my issue.
Oct 2011 3 1/2 years old.
Robert Williams Birth date 5/16/2008
I have a short list of people I'd leave our kids with overnight. Both of our sets of parents are on that list. We're blessed though to have a very close, trust-worthy circle that includes more than just family. The people I'd feel most comfortable with is our parents. They have the same values, same standards, and principles as we do.
In February, DH and I hosted a couples get away at Suncadia and invited five other couples to join us. For one of them it was the first time they'd been away ALONE as a couple in 3.5 years (the age of their daughter). Um, no. They realized they had been so paranoid that their marriage took a hit and cautioned us about not doing the same.
I'm not setting up to be like that. I think your marriage need not take a backburner ever so we will definitely be taking time to be alone here and there after DC is sleeping well through the night and we feel comfortable.
I'm with you Ash! I refuse to not have a life.
Ugh, people need to quit being so insecure about their parenting decisions!
I left Connor with DH when I went on that business trip and I would happily leave Connor with my IL's overnight if they lived close enough.
Maybe for New Years Eve we'll leave him overnight and do a party/hotel room? He'd be 12 months old.
She needs to come have a sleep over with cousin Gage!!!!