Anonymous wrote:Send your kids with the sitter to a fleabag motel with a pool, one that has hourly rates, magic fingers on the bed, maybe a coin-operated TV.

You want you kids to come back with fleas?

Op. You are making excuses. Put your kids to bed earlier. Then you can have your time.

I'm a single mom and when my mother takes my DD on an overnight all I do is get take out and chill on the sofa.

My you and your husband can take a night off and go to a hotel or take the kids to a hotel. Can you take a mental health day from work and spend the day at home?

Make your husband take them out for long stretches during the day so you can get that alone time in your own space. If I didn’t do this I’d go insane.

I get it, OP. I hate going out! I think this one of the hardest thing about being a parent…you’re never alone in the house.

My husband knows how much I enjoy being home alone and he’ll take the kids out for me. It doesn’t have to be at night…if he takes them to the park and Costco, I am delighted to be home alone for 3 hours.

Ask! Say how important it is.

Have the 3yo skip a nap one weekend. Wear them both out. Have everyone in bed at 7pm. Let 7yo read in bed til 8 if need be but no disturbing you.

I do know what you mean OP. It’s so nice being in the house alone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send your kids with the sitter to a fleabag motel with a pool, one that has hourly rates, magic fingers on the bed, maybe a coin-operated TV.

Well this was unnecessarily bitter. Did your parents do this to you?

How about don’t spoil your kids so much that going to a cheap hotel isn’t fun for them.

There are parent night out events - places like Pump It Up and My Gym offer them. I bet even the 3 year old could attend, assuming he’s potty trained.

Anonymous wrote:Send your kids with the sitter to a fleabag motel with a pool, one that has hourly rates, magic fingers on the bed, maybe a coin-operated TV.

Well this was unnecessarily bitter. Did your parents do this to you?

My kid goes by both grandmas fairly frequently...this could work if you have family nearby op. It is lovely. She's been doing this since she was 2.

Send your kids with the sitter to a fleabag motel with a pool, one that has hourly rates, magic fingers on the bed, maybe a coin-operated TV.

Any grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins they can stay with?

Anonymous wrote:Maybe ask your husband to take your kids out of town for a night, or at least to a hotel, as a present to you? Set it up so it seems like a treat to the kids.

+1

My DH checked me into a hotel in our city for the night a few times when our twins were infants/toddlers. It was blissful. Took a long bath, watched tv and ordered room service. For older kids it is nice to take the kids away instead- I’d take them to visit my parents so DH got a night alone etc. Hotel is a nice idea too- most kids enjoy a little pool time etc and then put on a kids movie.

Could you find another mom to trade with?

We did a lot of trading childcare when my kids were those ages. I'd take my kids to a friend's and then the next time they'd bring their kids to me.

Maybe ask your husband to take your kids out of town for a night, or at least to a hotel, as a present to you? Set it up so it seems like a treat to the kids.

We get a sitter sometimes and go out but what I really miss is EVER being able to just hang out on my sofa for an evening. Get takeout and not have to do a single thing or talk to anyone. Our oldest is 7 so it’s been yeeaaaaars since I’ve had that and our youngest is 3 so we are yeaaars away from having kids out at friends houses in the evening. And because the 3yo still naps, bedtime isn’t over early enough to leave enough time to still have a relaxing evening on the sofa, I basically head straight to bed.

Yes I know “at least I can get a sitter on occasion” and all the other ways my life could be worse. I’m just so tired and I wish it was possible to have an evening off without having to go somewhere outside of my house