Anonymous wrote:When the kids are gone, which will be sooner than you think, you’ll regret not taking more time to be with them.

I sort of get this sentiment in general, but seriously, after the past 15 months, many of us have racked up enough non-stop togetherness that I don’t think there’d be much regret in this situation.

Are you sure you aren't just stressed by trying to find a place for the dog? Can't you train for the race while on the trip? It kind of sounds like unplugging might get you out of your routines in a good way.

Anonymous wrote:When the kids are gone, which will be sooner than you think, you’ll regret not taking more time to be with them.

Unbelievable. If the OP gets a week to do what she needs to do to refresh and recharge, she will be able to engage with her family in a much more positive manner, rather than treading water.
Family will return to a home that is ready to receive them, with a happy dog and happy mom. Wins all around.

I hate to travel - I am a homebody, and I get terribly homesick. My husband has wanderlust. Two weeks would be too much for me.

Anonymous wrote:When the kids are gone, which will be sooner than you think, you’ll regret not taking more time to be with them.

Or maybe she, like a lot of moms, will feel frustrated by how much her life she gave up for her kids when her kids didn’t really need her to?

Anonymous wrote:DH (and kids!) really want to go on a 2 week vacation in August and I just don't want to. I don't like being gone from home that long; I don't like how my work piles up. I'm training for a race and I've got a garden to tend. We also have a dog and no good options on where to keep him for that long. Maybe I'm just a homebody. One week at a time seems sufficient for a vacation. I want to just come home early but I'm getting a lot of grief for suggesting that.

Count your blessings and be thankful you can afford to spend the money on a vacation.

He!!, I am trying to think of ways to get out of a one week vacation. With my wife, her mother and two nieces, I for see a week of he!!. Plus the dog on a seven hour drive. I would just like to stay home with the dog while they go.

When the kids are gone, which will be sooner than you think, you’ll regret not taking more time to be with them.

Where is the destination and would it just be your immediate family?

Grief from your husband? I don't understand why people do that to people they love.

If your husband is making passive-aggressive jabs about this, I'd just ignore it and schedule myself back home early. Now, if he wants to sit down and have an actual conversation perhaps there's a reason he doesen't want you to come back early (will miss you, doesn't want to handle all kids stuff, worried about you travelling alone, etc); if this is the case you guys can talk it out and come up with a plan that you both feel comfortable with.

I can only do 2 week vacations once in a blue moon. I agree, for me it's too long to be away from home.

Yeah, could they just stay for the second week without you?

You aren't preventing them from going on vacation, and you are still going to join them for part of the vacation. This is very reasonable, and they need to respect that.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t worry about the grief and just say “I love you guys so much! Have fun!”

It would be nice if everybody always approved of your decisions but they won’t and that’s life. Just be loving and present when you are with them and don’t neglect your own needs.

(What I mean by the first sentence is that’s what you would say about the second week. I think a week is a good compromise and would be plenty for me too.)

I wouldn’t worry about the grief and just say “I love you guys so much! Have fun!”

It would be nice if everybody always approved of your decisions but they won’t and that’s life. Just be loving and present when you are with them and don’t neglect your own needs.

DH (and kids!) really want to go on a 2 week vacation in August and I just don't want to. I don't like being gone from home that long; I don't like how my work piles up. I'm training for a race and I've got a garden to tend. We also have a dog and no good options on where to keep him for that long. Maybe I'm just a homebody. One week at a time seems sufficient for a vacation. I want to just come home early but I'm getting a lot of grief for suggesting that.