Would you/Have you just taken off on vacation by yourself?

semdkm · April 2013

I recently got a raise at work. Not a big, life changing raise, but a raise nonetheless (a big deal as I work in a field where income has been flat to lowered for three years now). While realistically I'm sure we will be using it to start doing some saving again/paying off school loans a bit more, what I REALLY want to do is take a vacation, by myself, to France or Italy, where I know no one, and explore and drink wine and just, well, that's it. Explore and drink wine. By myself. Read good books. Well, maybe take my mom, too, and visit my sister, who will be working over there for the summer. Get back to me, get perspective. I am also feeling like after years of working a job I don't particularly like, high stress all the time, with no real option of leaving for a number of reasons (I could leave but my husband would have to work three jobs to make up for it and we'd have to sell our home and uproot our kids and not pay our other bills-sound good?)....I deserve a good break. A spa day to myself isn't going to cut it. I need a positive life-altering experience to make me feel like me again.

That said, I know I'd miss my husband and kids and spend most of the time feeling guilty about taking a lavish vacation w/o husband and kids when we really need to be saving some money, etc.....and feel guilty about wanting to be my myself! As it is now, I've never spent more than one night away from my kids, so for over five years now!

Anyone do something like what I'm daydreaming about? Was it worth it?

EastCoastBride · April 2013

If you want to do it and your DH supports it, then go for it.

I personally would have no interest in this. A part of the joy of travel for me is being able to share the experience w/ someone.

2chatter · April 2013

Is there a middle ground? You get care for the kids and you and DH go, then he flies home before you and you spend time with your sister? A less spendy solo trip?

My middle ground is a long weekend with my sorority sisters ev

jf198400 · April 2013

Don't feel guilty about leaving your kids, sometimes you need it. DH and I are taking our first vacation without kids next month. We've been away overnight a couple times for weddings, but this is our first real vacation. We are going to

Brit's Luna154 · April 2013

I think your personality will determine if you enjoy it or not. Some people feed off of the energy of others, some people are perfectly content to be by themselves.

I'm doing something similar, but not exactly the same later this week. I'm goi

semdkm · April 2013

I'm sure there is a middle ground, but it would have to be just me, because my husband would have to care for the kids. Sadly, we don't have family that is able to care for our kids for even an overnight these days, and it really sucks. So I c

jnealet · April 2013

I'd do it! And if your sister is already there, more the reason!

*sparky* · April 2013

semdkm:
I'm sure there is a middle ground, but it would have to be just me, because my husband would have to care for the kids

Stasi · April 2013

Personally, I wouldn't do it, but it's not in my personality to travel alone.

However, if this is something that you feel passionate about doing, if you think it will help "recharge" and regain a little sense of who you are and in the long run

Iblamethebeer · April 2013

I see red flags here.

You want to leave your husband at home so you fly to Europe and have a "positive life-altering experience to make me feel like me again"?

If my husband said that to me, I would be really hurt, and re

salt78 · April 2013

All the time before I was married. I'd like to do it again eventually. I wouldn't want to leave the country, but another state maybe. I really enjoy alone time.

Kie310 · April 2013

I've gone on long weekends (3-4 days) by myself places. I've never left the country without my husband, and wouldn't, but continental US, definitely. I'm planning a long weekend with friends for next year & my sister is starting a fellowship at a h

semdkm · April 2013

No red flags, previous poster, and my husband is actually a great, caring man who, I am confident, would send me with his blessing if that's what I really wanted, and take off work to watch the kids while I did it. An

jlaOK · April 2013

I wouldn't take a vacation by myself, but a vacation with my mom or a friend I would totally do. It would make sense to take your mom with you, especially if you get to see your sister.

If you feel guilty about spending the money, then I

semdkm · April 2013

Thanks for the suggestions--I'm going to look up Quebec City

Iblamethebeer · April 2013

semdkm:

No red flags, previous poster, and my husband is actually a great, caring man who, I a

thedash · April 2013

semdkm:

No red flags, previous poster, and my husband is actually a great, caring man who, I am

semdkm · April 2013

And would it also be selfish to go on vacation without one's kids, then? Where do you draw the line? At the length of the vacation, the amount spent, the destination, or the company (husband, no husband, kids, no kids?) Just curious.&

sugarbear0524 · April 2013

semdkm:
I recently got a raise at work. Not a big, life changing raise, but a raise nonetheless (a big deal as I work in

LALASEPT05 · April 2013

I hear you! I would love to take a vacation by myself. For the record I don't think that traveling with your Mom to visit your sister would necessarily be a vacation by yourself. I think my DH would probably support a trip like that by I think he would ha

2chatter · April 2013

It sounds like the last few years have been pretty rough - outside of the trip are you doing anything or have you considering doing anything about any resentment/frustration/over-it-ness you feel as a result of your DH's career not panning out, h

MirandaHobbes · April 2013

I get what you're saying, but here's the part I wouldn't personally be able to get over:

(1) I would feel too guilty leaving DH by himself with DS. That isn't much of a vacation for him, and we have such a hard time just getting by splitting ever

semdkm · April 2013

You need to read my post again-see last line "daydreaming."

KathrynMD · April 2013

I'd feel guilty about leaving my family that long. I have taken a few long weekends either with a girlfriend or DH and its very restorative for me. I'd do a long weekend 34 days even away but more than that I'd miss DD and DH more than I'd relax.

iluvmylab · April 2013

EastCoastBride:
If you want to do it and your DH supports it, then go for it.
I personally would have no interest in thi

Jenn06L80 · April 2013

I have not taken a vacation by myself but my DH has. And he is going to Africa this summer by himself as a second solo vacay. I think it is great for your or YH to get alone time. I would travel alone but I would much rather go with DH o

Iblamethebeer · April 2013

semdkm:

And would it also be selfish to go on vacation without one's kids, then? Where do you draw the line? At

JWSchwarz · April 2013

I've been daydreaming about RedMountain Spa in St George Utah. I went with my mom a couple of years ago. It's kind of a juxtapose up at 6am for hikes, followed by bootcamp, followed by gourmet lunch and world class spa services. Think spa vacation with a

mittensonkittens · April 2013

I've taken trips with DH and had my mom stay with the kids. But before kids I did travel internationally alone, and I totally understand what you want to do and why. But the money thing would be a problem for me in your situation. I would look for some

sadie+w · April 2013

thedash:
semdkm:<

MommyKayla11 · April 2013

No. I can't envision myself without DH.

ridesbuttons · April 2013

I took a weeklong vacation by myself last fall. It seemed like such a good idea but truthfully, within a couple of days, I just felt kind of stupid. Like I had travelled thousands of miles and paid thousands of dollars to be able to take a

LoCarb · April 2013

May I suggest a compromise?

You can visit....wait for it...exotic and wonderful TX. You will stay in an almost luxurious guest room with private bath overlooking a bunch of other houses in a Dallas burb. Sightseeing includes the house from

groovygrl · April 2013

This was an interesting thread...so much of it for everyone who responded is likely ingrained in their own experiences, values and priorities...and my reaction is the same based on what I have chosen to do and not do and what I enjoy... But to try to l

laurakaz13 · April 2013

I used to travel overseas a lot on my own. Lived in London and Panama for several years when I was single. I do see the appeal of going overseas and just doing what you want. However, I have always enjoyed sharing travel with som

laurakaz13 · April 2013

Iblamethebeer:
I see red flags here.

You want to leave your husband at home so you fly to Europe and ha

kristennd · April 2013

It is really never useful to do an involved post and then at the end say 'just dreaming, btw,' It won't get read that way and what does it really accomplish.

DH and I already take separate vacations. Sometimes because we have different interests.

RondackHiker · April 2013

For me the traveling alone part wasn't a red flag or flame full.

What kind of felt red flaggy to me was the "life changing" trip part.

One, trips are great and refreshing and can give you a fresh perspective... But are rarely lif

tbmadeamistake · April 2013

I have taken vacation days for myself, so I still see LO in the morning and evening. Those are awesome because I have no reason to feel guilty. She's happy sticking to her normal schedule at daycare and DH is at work so I can watch my crappy t

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Would you/Have you just taken off on vacation by yourself?

Re: Would you/Have you just taken off on vacation by yourself?

Married DH 7/30/11

CSC arrived 5/7/12

CHC arrived 6/2/14

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