Leaving Little One Behind

[fordslovetocruise]

Hubby and I are cruising on the Valor 3/13 - 3/20 and we are leaving our 18 month old son behind, he's staying with grandma and grandpa and his two cousins. Having been on many cruises before we have decided that a cruise ship is no place for a little kid. Just wondering if anyone else is leaving their little one/ones behind and how they are feeling about it. Everyone that we talk to thinks it's great that we have someone, like his grandparents and cousins, to leave him with. I know that I will miss him but I also know that we will great time.

[GoinCruisin]

We cruised in October... my sister and BIL left their 16 month old with the in laws... they knew they would miss him, but really needed the time away and both agreed afterwards that it was really good for them. They missed him of course, but thoroughly enjoyed themselves... I know it will be difficult, but it gives you guys a well deserved vacation and is also good for your son to be able to spend some quality time with other family... have a great time!!!!!!

[I Luv Crusin]

My perspective is a little different. My kids are teens and we take them. BUT there were times when they were little(not newborns) that we left them with friends or family while my DH and I traveled.

 

Try to do it without worrying! I applaud you! It's a good time to re-focus on your marriage.

[tef43]

Bravo!

[fordslovetocruise]

Thanks everyone, for your responses. I know it's a good idea, I will get over it eventually. I really can't wait till he's older so we can take him with us!!! You have all made me feel much better about this whole idea. :)

[dosi]

our son took his first cruise at 2 1/2 and we all had a great time. Of course we are not blessed with capable in laws like you are....but in a way I am glad we aren't because we really had fun bringing our son with us.

[cali-croozer]

Have a great time. You're leaving your child with people who love him and whom you trust. Just be sure your conversations with your husband include topics other than your son. (I have this problem still.........and my kids are teens!):)

[dansize]

We cruised for our first time in March on a 7-day on the Pride. We left our 2 year old and his 6 year old sister with my folks. While I had been on business trips without the kids, my wife had never left my son for more then 2 days so I thought it might be a bit challenging.

 

As it was, we had a great time celebrating our 10th anniversary and the kids hung out with grandparents that spoiled them on a trip to Legoland/San Diego.

[Catrin]

In 1999, we left our then 4 and 1 yr old with my Mom, and then Sister In Law for the week....

YES, we missed them.. but it was so worth it.

 

We promised them that they would some day go on a cruise with us, and we lived up to that promise in 2003 and 2004!

 

Go on your own NOW... Have a BLAST!

But someday, return with your family... it really is the PERFECT family vacation!

Catrin

[NHLady]

When our daughter was 6 and our son was not quite 2, we took a four day cruise and left the kids with my mother-in-law. The kids got spoiled rotten! We missed the kids by the time we got back, so I was glad that we only went for four days, but it was wonderful to have some totally private time with my DH. Two weeks from now, we're heading out on the Fantasy for four days. This time, we're taking the kids with us!! We're all looking forward to our first of hopefully many family cruises.

[L2J]

Hubby and I are cruising on the Valor 3/13 - 3/20 and we are leaving our 18 month old son behind, he's staying with grandma and grandpa and his two cousins. Having been on many cruises before we have decided that a cruise ship is no place for a little kid. Just wondering if anyone else is leaving their little one/ones behind and how they are feeling about it. Everyone that we talk to thinks it's great that we have someone, like his grandparents and cousins, to leave him with. I know that I will miss him but I also know that we will great time.

 

 

HOLY SMOKES!!

 

Did I sign on to the right website?

 

Go and ENJOY!

[nybumpkin]

<Just be sure your conversations with your husband include topics other than your son.>

 

Learned this one the hard way - when DH and I left our oldest with my parents the first time to go out for an evening, all we ended up talking about was him! I wish we had started cruising when we (and our parents) were younger; my parents loved watching our 2 older sons, but cannot watch them for extended periods of time now. You do need to get away by yourselves, and if you have relatives able and willing to watch your kids, go for it! They'll be fine. If you want to let them know you're thinking about them, send them an e-mail, or mail them one of the ship's postcards. (Check with the purser's office - you may be able to send it out before you even leave the dock!)

[momsoftwins]

i am leaving this sunday for a 5 day cruise on the holiday. i am leaving behind husband and 18 month old TWIN daughters!!!! i have only spent one night away from them since birth. i am so ready but then again i will miss them dearly!! but daddy will do a good job and if not i am going to have a good time anyway:D

[ChristinaN]

Good for you. I'm the opposite of you and cruising with our soon-to-be year old son at the end of the month. I just can't bear to leave him for a week. And he needs a vacation too! ;)

 

I applaud you for taking the time to enjoy a well-deserved break.

[Mollypuss]

We will be leaving behind our 11 month old daughter with her grandma and grandpa while we stuff our faces and bask in the sun. We are sailing on the Valor the week after you..3/20. She has spent several weekends with them already and we have zero reservations about leaving for a week. All parents need a break and alone time once in a while. Although we have been discussing when would be a good age to start bringing her....maybe when she is 3 or 4. We will certainly get a whole new prospective on cruising!

[TNCruiselover]

Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy!!!! You will miss the kids but it is so worth it. We have taken 3 wonderful cruises without the kids but are planning a family cruise for June 2005 and look forward to sharing this experience with them. They will be 7 and 13 and I think they will be old enough to thoroughly enjoy the cruise. We have never really felt guilty about taking vacations without the kids because we always take nice family vacations too.

 

Have a wonderful time. :D

[S.S. Cruisers]

Holy cow, a civilized, adult conversation, that doesn't insist that we hate children? Go figure.

 

Fords: Of course you will miss the little one, we miss our four legged one, now thats pathetic. We take a photo of him and it helps remind us whats waiting for us at home! Go have fun and the two of you can have one on one time that has been pushed aside for now. :D

[kjunea]

My hubby and I will leave our boy who will be two by then with some very good friends while we cruise in May. Neither of us have parents who are able to handle a very lively boy (my mom is 78 and his parents are in their early 70's in slightly fragile health).

 

We never really had a honeymoon because of our schedules and then having the baby, so this is our honeymoon I guess. I will miss him horribly I'm sure, but really need to get away and be an adult again, not just the momma!

 

June

[halos]

fordslovetocruise....it's the anticipation that kills you every time.

 

Whenever I leave my kids TO THIS DAY and they are 19 and just about 17...I feel sick to my stomach.

This past summer my DH and I went to Florida for a long weekend for my SIL's surprise 50th birthday. We left the girls at home and I had the same reaction as when I would leave them with my Mom (or whomever) when they were little...

months before leaving, I thought about it non-stop..made myself sick to my stomach, worried ceaslessly, and couldn't wait to be back home already and for it to be over with.

BUT...the good news is that once I left...and got to my destination, I actually didn't worry as much, and was actually able to have a good time. This happened every time when they were little, and still to this day happens when I leave them.

Ironically, when they leave me..I don't get this way...when my oldest went off to college, I didn't get like this...she went to Costa Rica for 3 weeks as an exchange student..and I still didn't get this upset. It only happens when I leave THEM...is anyone else out there like this or am I TOTALLY nuts????

Anyway...I know you're worried right now, but after you drop off your baby and head out with your husband, you will actually feel good. Once you're on the ship...you'll wonder what you were worried about!!

Have a great time!!!!

OH...and PS....I still to this day remember all the times I stayed with my grandparents...they are my best memories. They'll be good memories for your baby as well.

[chelsea2005]

I know how you feel! We're going on the Valor May 29th and leaving our 18 month with my parents. I feel bad about it!!

[Vicar]

For years I did every kid themed vacation spot in America with my daughter (now 17) so when I did take a vacation without her, I didn't feel too bad, Of course I missed her, but knew she was with my mom, and in great hands. Sometimes I think my daughter was more spoiled and pampered staying at my moms house, than I was on vacation. *LOL*

 

My Fiance has a 6 yr old son, and we are doing the same with him, taking him on all the kid type trips and excursions we can so when we go on the adult trips we don't feel guilty.

 

It is more comforting when you have capable and reliable people to leave the little ones with , which we are blessed to have.

 

Halos ,

 

That is so true, I always worry more when i am leaveing the kids , than when they are leaveing me.

 

My daughter went to California for 2 weeks this summer with her friends family and I missed her of course, but knew she was in good hands with very responcible people. When my fiance went on our last cruise, I was running around making sure she had enough money while we were gone, and was there enough food in the house, and did she know who to call if this happened or that happened. A little more stressful than when she left me. :)

 

This September we have the big separation, when she goes off to college, but I think we will get through it. :)

[Intrudr]

We left our oldest daughter home on our first two cruises and took her on our third when she was 5 y/o. She loved the cruise, Camp Carnival and she also eliminated the problem of having to spend 7 full days together with no one other than my wife (no yelling at me - both she and I felt the same). As a family we had so much fun - climbing Dunn's River falls, feeding the Stingrays, petting Dolphins - I can't imagine going without again. Nor would she ever let us forget it. In the interim our second daughter arrived and after a 2 year hiatus we were back on the Miracle one month after her second birthday. Why, that time span you ask? Because most children's programs don't accept children under 3 y/o - only Carnival takes 2 y/o - not even Disney! Mind you, I love them both and want them to cruise with, but we want some time alone together at the Casino or piano bar sans children. Upshot: Take your children but wait until they're old enough to enroll in the children's programs otherwise you won't get anytime without.

[bunnycrawford]

My DH and I have been lucky enough to travel without our children a lot. We are leaving tomorrow to get on the Conquest. My mom is staying with them, 4 1/2 and 8 1/2. They love the time with their Nana and I love the time with my DH. We try to do one trip without and one trip with the kids. Every couple needs time to rejuvenate and be together without all the struggles of daily life!!

 

Enjoy yourself, you will feel so great when you get home!!

[halos]

Whew! It's amazing, ain't it???? :D

[L2J]

Hmmmm....have we really become civilized? ;)