Going away without 2 yo

[Anonymous]

My husband and I plan to go away for a week together for the first since my daughter was born 2 years ago. My in-laws are coming to watch our daughter while we are gone and they are excited and looking forward to it. However, I am having some trouble to feel positive about leaving her. She has never spent a night without either my husband or I at home for 2 years. I am excited for the trip but am not sure whether I will enjoy it fully.

[ThatSmileyFaceGuy]

First of all she's not staying with the in-laws, she is staying with her Grandparents.

Start by writing complete instructions about the care and feeding of your daughter. Try to make it humorous mentioning all the littie quirks she has. Better that they have the instructions and not need or use it then not have them when they do. Include her insurance card along with a signed waiver for her grandparents to take her to the doctor or hospital if necessary but include that all they get to do is check her in and other medical decisions will be made by you.

Otherwise, you will enjoy yourself but you will think of her nearly constantly. There will be phone calls before dinner, at bedtime, and just before breakfast. She will tell you about all the fun she is having at grandma's and you will feel sad about that. but inthe end everyone will survive and you two could use the chance to get away as a couple.

[Anonymous]

Does your daughter spend time with her grandparents regularly? You trust their judgement, right?

Just leave all the lists and details, call once a day, and have a GREAT trip!!

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the advice. I definately will write the instructions and leave the insurance card. Thank you so much!

[Anonymous]

We are doing this too in the Spring and leaving our then almost 3 year old and our 1.5 year old with my parents. The kids love their grandparents and I trust them completely. The kids will maintain their normal schedule for the most part (ie -daycare). And maybe it makes me a bad mom but I have no trepidation about it. I just can't wait to have some alone time with DH, sleep in, order breakfast in bed, sit and read by the pool, etc, etc. Is it April yet????

[Anonymous]

Is there any way you could do a shorter stay with the grandparents first? If she has never been without her parents for a night in her life, a whole week might be a lot to ask, even with care givers she knows and loves.
I am planning a short vacation with DH next spring when our son will be just over 2, and the grandparents want us to do a trial run first where we aren't too far away in case DS melts down.

[Anonymous]

Not to be a downer, but be sure you have a will stating who would get your daughter if something happened to both of you (a good idea regardless of travel plans, actually). I agree that a week is long for a first trip away.

[Anonymous]

Don't be surprised or take it personally if DC is more attached to GPs when you get back... My aunt and uncle returned from a trip, expecting my cousin to run into their arms.. she looked up from what she was doing and said, "Grandma, people here," and went back to playing