Would you allow your 5 year old to stay with Grandma out of town?

[Anonymous]

My 10 year old is getting on a plane by herself this summer to spend a week with her grandparents and cousins. She is thrilled. Can't wait.
These relationships and her independence started with long weekends at age 5. Don't steal opportunities for joy from her because of your issues.

[Anonymous]

My parents, definitely, and I think my kids did spend 2 nights with them at that age. Unfortunately, they live in CA so those overnights only happen when we are out there to visit and I leave the kids with them while I visit friends in another part of the state. I'd have loved for my parents to take them for a full week but they don't feel up to that long a visit because they think the kids (who are now in MS) will get bored.

My ILs, no way. But MIL smoked around the clock and both had health/mobility issues.

[Anonymous]

My own mother, absolutely..and my child is 2. In fact, she will have him for 2-3 nights soon bc we are expecting baby #2. My ILs would be tougher...1 night would be fine but due to health/energy they probably would not even want to do more than that.

[Anonymous]

Yep.

I trust my mom with my children. I have zero issues about their safety. They'll be happy and myself and DW can spend time alone.

We started sending both our children to my parents house when they were 2.5.

Now, my inlaws? Nope. I probably never will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for everyone's gut check here as my DH and MIL think I am being difficult and helicopter-y. MIL wants my DD to stay overnight for 2-3 days at her home about 3 hours away from us this summer. MIL is very safety conscious and responsive to DD's needs but, I don't know, I'm just uncomfortable with DD being away from me overnight! I'm sure would have a blast during the day, but what if she gets scared and decides she wants to come home in the middle of the night?

Am I holding on too hard? Thanks, everyone.

yes, did it multiple times with both kids and worked out great. both had a great, deep relationship with their grandma.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't. Why can't grandma come stay overnight at your house? At least to start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't. Why can't grandma come stay overnight at your house? At least to start.

Why? The kid is 5 years old, not 5 days or weeks or months.

[Anonymous]

We have a similar issue except that my MIL lives in town with us and has this idea that she really wants my 5 year old to go stay overnight at her house. I see absolutely no reason to do this -- if DH and I want to go out at night, she can come to our house and watch him there (which she does sometimes), and we have a younger kid, too, so even if he goes to her house, it's not like we'll have the house to ourselves. Plus, she lives here, so it's not like going to her house would be a chance to see someplace different. It's literally 15-20 minutes from our house. It just seems like an annoyance to me because I know he's going to come home exhausted the next day and be a pill.

I think it's fine if your kid wants to, but you don't have to do it unless you're ready. Why not try out one night? If your kid is excited and wants to do it, one night will be no problem.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe this is a real question. OP says there are zero safety issues. What the hell is wrong with all of you???

[Anonymous]

If you trust the grandparent you need to check your anxieties and allow your child to go if that's what they want. This will help them be independent later in life. My mom was secretly the most over protective mom ever but she always put her own feelings aside for me and put a smile on and let me go on trips with family members, do academic summer programs etc. This made it really easy for me to go to college with out being upset, love alone later in life and be an overall independent person. This is a good chance for you to put your child before you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't. Why can't grandma come stay overnight at your house? At least to start.

Why? The kid is 5 years old, not 5 days or weeks or months.

Maybe I'm projecting onto OP. My MIL is really pushy about wanting DD to stay overnight (we are local and see each other weekly). Her insistence creeps me out on some level even though I an fine with MIL staying here. Like, why us this so important to her? Also her house is in no way kid proofed, it's all glass cabinets and unanchored bookshelves.

[Anonymous]

My grandchildren regularly stay with us when their parents go on vacation, from infancy forward. It's a treat for them and for us. They beg to be allowed to come and are never eager to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't. Why can't grandma come stay overnight at your house? At least to start.

Why? The kid is 5 years old, not 5 days or weeks or months.

Maybe I'm projecting onto OP. My MIL is really pushy about wanting DD to stay overnight (we are local and see each other weekly). Her insistence creeps me out on some level even though I an fine with MIL staying here. Like, why us this so important to her? Also her house is in no way kid proofed, it's all glass cabinets and unanchored bookshelves.

I mean do what you want but your saying she lives in town so what is the point is weird.

[Anonymous]

I would without hesitation. My 27 month old has been staying with my mother overnight since he was 6 weeks. We let him spend the weekend with her or my inlaws all the time.

I trust them so I don't worry. But if you do, that's your choice. It might be good for you to loosen up though.

[Anonymous]

Yes.