Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. We are also celebrating 10 years this fall and absolutely plan to bring the kids on a celebratory trip. Not everyone wants to go on vacation without their young kids, even for an anniversary.
OP, we were thinking of something like NYC. Depending on time of year, you could also consider staying in a lodge within a national park somewhere out west.

NP, those are great ideas! Also, Montreal, San Francisco. As for myself, I don't mind taking short weekend getaway trips away from my kids but for a "vacation" - I'd want to bring them. I don't get to travel that offen and when I do, I'd want all of us to benefit.

Kids do benefit from time with other family, independence, and parents with a strong marriage.

Omg! It's not like OP's marriage will crumble if they take their kids along. Time for you to MYOB.

Nobody said it would, Would taking kids in on ten year anniversary trip be your first idea? I think people generally question what is not common practice. It is human nature.

Assuming you are in DC, schlepping young kids to Hawaii sounds miserable. I'd look for shorter flights (and direct, if possible): Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, etc.

Hawaii sounds like it would fit the bill.

Or maybe a beachy European vacation (Spain, France, Greece, etc.).

If you want something shorter/cheaper how about a beach house rental in the summer on the East Coast? NC, NJ, MA, etc. or California? Or Baja - Cabo San Lucas.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. We are also celebrating 10 years this fall and absolutely plan to bring the kids on a celebratory trip. Not everyone wants to go on vacation without their young kids, even for an anniversary.
OP, we were thinking of something like NYC. Depending on time of year, you could also consider staying in a lodge within a national park somewhere out west.

NP, those are great ideas! Also, Montreal, San Francisco. As for myself, I don't mind taking short weekend getaway trips away from my kids but for a "vacation" - I'd want to bring them. I don't get to travel that offen and when I do, I'd want all of us to benefit.

Kids do benefit from time with other family, independence, and parents with a strong marriage.

Omg! It's not like OP's marriage will crumble if they take their kids along. Time for you to MYOB.

It isn't an anniversary trip if you bring your kids. It's simply a vacation.

Club Med, Beaches, or Disney Cruise.

There's a new nickelodeon resort in the DR...looks nice since it's brand new.

My two cents: disney cruise. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my kids with strangers in a third world country.

My SIL and BIL love the club med resorts. They have a "kids club" that their children love, but can spend as much family time together as they want.

Geez. You all will fight over anything. Grow up. You sound like my kids - who thank goodness go to school on Monday!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. We are also celebrating 10 years this fall and absolutely plan to bring the kids on a celebratory trip. Not everyone wants to go on vacation without their young kids, even for an anniversary.
OP, we were thinking of something like NYC. Depending on time of year, you could also consider staying in a lodge within a national park somewhere out west.

NP, those are great ideas! Also, Montreal, San Francisco. As for myself, I don't mind taking short weekend getaway trips away from my kids but for a "vacation" - I'd want to bring them. I don't get to travel that offen and when I do, I'd want all of us to benefit.

Kids do benefit from time with other family, independence, and parents with a strong marriage.

Oh, get off your high horse. You have NO idea what happens the other 50 weeks of the year. Stop assuming something is wrong because the kids are coming.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Again, some more: it doesn't have to be elderly parents! Siblings, close friends, cousins, nieces nephews...

You have no idea what their family situation is.

They may not have family members they trust=--they may even not have family members. They may not have close friends who would be willing to watch the kids. They may not feel comfortable leaving their kids with a babysitter. There are lots and lots of reasons that this could occur. I know, because I was in that situation when my kids were young. Elderly parents, siblings who lived far away and had their own struggles to deal with, etc. We had just moved here and our friends were not in a position to watch our kids, etc.etc.

Neither do you.

Except that OP didn't ask for how to go away without kids, so the suggestions are unnecessary and stupidly judgemental. (It's couples time! Blah blah, make choices for your own family.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not all grandparents are equipped to care for young children. And many more simply aren't interested...especially for a week.

We always bring our kids with us on big trips. It's called "building memories."

Who said it has to be grandparents? Aunts/uncles, best friends from college, cousins...

We take plenty of family vacations together. But milestone anniversaries are couple time. It's called "prioritizing romance and marriage."

Well, pp, you are truly blessed to have family members who are willing to step up and care for two young children for one week. In the real world, most of us do not have that luxury.

Fwiw, we prioritize our marriage by having sex every night. We do not need to take a vacation without kids to have sex.

Another vote for Hawaii. Sounds like there would be something there for everyone. If you wanted to spend some time alone you could also probably have them spend a couple half days doing a kids club and/or get a sitter for a couple of special dinners out.

When we travel as a family, I like to be together as a family and not leave them with sitters or kids clubs more than once once or twice. That said, we have also traveled several times without them (usually for anniversaries). No right or wrong - do what you want. I think Hawaii would be an amazing family trip and also have a "special" anniversary feel. I think you could do fun things together and also have time alone.

Kids do benefit from time with other family, independence, and parents with a strong marriage.


Surprisingly, you can have a strong marriage that includes keeping your kids close by. Personal choice--not right or wrong.





I never said otherwise. I was making the point that kids CAN benefit from a kid-free vacation.

That's not what it sounded like.

When our kids were small, DH was in a high stress job that allowed little time off. When he had time off, we wanted to spend it as a family. I guess I don't understand why some people look at that as an imposition.

Anonymous wrote:

Kids do benefit from time with other family, independence, and parents with a strong marriage.

Surprisingly, you can have a strong marriage that includes keeping your kids close by. Personal choice--not right or wrong.

I never said otherwise. I was making the point that kids CAN benefit from a kid-free vacation.