What do you do for childcare for trips with just the two of you?

[Anonymous]

Kids are 5 & 7 so no daycare/nanny any longer. In the past grandparents were able to take them for 4-5 days, but last trip was 2 years ago and health declines since then have made that not an option. We *might* be able to have kids stay with grandparents overnight with daytime assistance (we live ~2 miles apart), but at the moment I can't depend on that.

So just wondering what folks do in this situation. Do you try to get a regular sitter to stay overnight? Swap overnights with friends? Go during the school week so kids are at least in school for some of the time?

Our marriage could really use a trip with just the two of us, so trying to figure out how to make that happen.

[Anonymous]

Our kids are younger than yours, at 2 and 3.5. But we will probably just take a long weekend away a couple of times a year and have friends watch the kids, and then we'll watch their kids so they can take their long weekend away. Quid pro quo, you know?

[Anonymous]

Well here's what we did with our three: looked for resorts with kids clubs and childcare, the took them along. Not ideal, but at least we got some nice dinners out with just the two of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are younger than yours, at 2 and 3.5. But we will probably just take a long weekend away a couple of times a year and have friends watch the kids, and then we'll watch their kids so they can take their long weekend away. Quid pro quo, you know?

OP here. In all sincerity please count your blessings if this is an option. Unfortunately I can't think of any friends that would be up for this for a number of reasons - friends with kids close in age are t good enough friends, and close friends have much younger kids and are at capacity as is. But hopefully we can develop these types of relationships eventually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are younger than yours, at 2 and 3.5. But we will probably just take a long weekend away a couple of times a year and have friends watch the kids, and then we'll watch their kids so they can take their long weekend away. Quid pro quo, you know?

OP here. In all sincerity please count your blessings if this is an option. Unfortunately I can't think of any friends that would be up for this for a number of reasons - friends with kids close in age are t good enough friends, and close friends have much younger kids and are at capacity as is. But hopefully we can develop these types of relationships eventually.

Uhhh well you asked what people do. They answered. Is the goal of your post to remind everyone who has good options to count their blessings?

[Anonymous]

We don't. No family or other options. Our kids are 17 and 15 and we have never taken a trip without them.

[Anonymous]

Poster who took our kids along and did kids clubs here. We never felt close enough with friends to leave all of our kids when they were little either. One time we did drive to see SIL and her husband; they offered to take our kids for just two nights so DH and I could do a quick getaway for our anniversary. Would this work for you, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are younger than yours, at 2 and 3.5. But we will probably just take a long weekend away a couple of times a year and have friends watch the kids, and then we'll watch their kids so they can take their long weekend away. Quid pro quo, you know?

OP here. In all sincerity please count your blessings if this is an option. Unfortunately I can't think of any friends that would be up for this for a number of reasons - friends with kids close in age are t good enough friends, and close friends have much younger kids and are at capacity as is. But hopefully we can develop these types of relationships eventually.

Oh, I absolutely know how lucky I am. But I also know how much work we put into cultivating these relationships too. These are families I've known for over three years, and we already get together once or twice a week. We've talked about swapping kids for weekends. We've agree it won't be until everyone is out of diapers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't. No family or other options. Our kids are 17 and 15 and we have never taken a trip without them.

+1 Count your blessings OP

[Anonymous]

We leave them with either set of grandparents or my sister, all of whom are local.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are younger than yours, at 2 and 3.5. But we will probably just take a long weekend away a couple of times a year and have friends watch the kids, and then we'll watch their kids so they can take their long weekend away. Quid pro quo, you know?

OP here. In all sincerity please count your blessings if this is an option. Unfortunately I can't think of any friends that would be up for this for a number of reasons - friends with kids close in age are t good enough friends, and close friends have much younger kids and are at capacity as is. But hopefully we can develop these types of relationships eventually.

Uhhh well you asked what people do. They answered. Is the goal of your post to remind everyone who has good options to count their blessings?

You're right, I did ask, and I appreciate the PPs response. While it doesn't help me short term it was a good reminder that this is something worth working towards. The post brought up some sad emotions for me because we've had these types of friends in the past but moved relatively recently and I still feel the loss acutely. But PPs suggestion is a good one.

I also appreciate the other responses. It reminds me to be happy for what we do have.

[Anonymous]

We don't take trips without the kids, either. We are trying to get a sitter once a month or every other month to have a nice adult dinner alone. So far this hasn't happened but it's a goal.

[Anonymous]

FYI mine are also 5 and 7. It's harder to rely on out of town relatives since they are more active now and in school. I understand, OP.

[Anonymous]

I wouldnt want to take a trip without my kids, they are 16 and 14.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poster who took our kids along and did kids clubs here. We never felt close enough with friends to leave all of our kids when they were little either. One time we did drive to see SIL and her husband; they offered to take our kids for just two nights so DH and I could do a quick getaway for our anniversary. Would this work for you, OP?

Here's hoping! I've raised this suggestion (offering to do the same of course) and don't think siblings are up for it yet. Thinking we may just have to wait until they are old enough for sleep away camp.