go away mid week and ask your nanny to do a sleepover with her kids or pay for a sitter for her kids for one night at their house if she doesnt want to disrupt their routine.

Even if its one night to a spa (salamander etc) or something but its not that big of an ask for your nanny mid week since she is there most of the time anyway.

Anonymous wrote:Who cares if your friends are going on 10th anniversary trips and you can’t because of the ages of your children? You can go on a great trip for a different anniversary and some day you will no longer have kids in the house. Think long game and grow up.

This is a little harsh, but I agree in spirit. We are in the same boat - no nearby family, infrequent baby sitters that aren't available for overnights anyway. We go on vacations with our kids and enjoy the airbnb after they've gone to bed. Maybe get nice takeout. We went away alone before them, and in the blink of an eye they'll be more independent, and I will feel better about leaving them with someone.

We vacationed near where our families live. We dropped the kids off and went on vacation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask your nanny if she’ll do an overnight for $$$ and get a local hotel room.

The nanny has kids of her own. The answer is no.

What if her kids could crash at your house? What if you went over the summer (no school issues for her kids/your kids)? What if you paid her time and a half or a $1k bonus?

We’ve been away twice during our 12.5 years of parenthood. Once we drove our kids a few states away to stay with DH’s family. (Elderly parents plus very involved sister and BIL). The other time we had our nanny stay. She brought her son and stayed for two nights.

If neither of those is an option, I like the day of going to a tropical all-inclusive place with a really fun kids’ club.

We take DD to my parents’ house and leave from there.

In your case, I would trust a close friend that has childcare experiences (or with similar age kids) than finding a nanny that you are not certain at all. We have family locally that can help out, but we have not traveled for a long time. We are planning to go to europe for 1-2 weeks for our 10 year wedding anniversary. Our child will be 8 & 4 years old. Not sure if I would want to bring them. Bringing them does not sound like travel to me, and it is costly to bring them along.

Here are your choices, if you have not been able to find available, reliable, trustworthy and good care givers.
1) You do not get away on your own.
2) You go to kids friendly resorts or cruises, with your kids.
3) You take your kids to grandparents house, leave them there and you and DH go on a couples only vacations/

I’m a nanny with a child and I babysit for the weekends a few times per year for my boss. I just bring my son over and he sleeps in a sleeping bag on the floor of the guest room with me. I need the extra money so it works out well.

Anonymous wrote:Also, as your kids get older, they’ll be able to go to sleep away camp. My parents later confessed they’d have a staycation and relax while I spent a week or two during the summer at camp.

Why do they have to “confess” this? I know my parents partied it up during the month I was at camp! I liked hearing about what they did (a heavily edited, age-appropriate version).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask your nanny if she’ll do an overnight for $$$ and get a local hotel room.

The nanny has kids of her own. The answer is no.

Does the nanny have a spouse? Maybe her spouse could take care of her kids for a weekend. It's not rocket science.

Why is this the nanny’s problem to solve? OP needs to change her expectations.

Nope. Just get a new nanny and problem solved!

Lots of older nannies happily do overnights and weekends.

You need a new nanny, OP.

Anonymous wrote:Who cares if your friends are going on 10th anniversary trips and you can’t because of the ages of your children? You can go on a great trip for a different anniversary and some day you will no longer have kids in the house. Think long game and grow up.

+1

WHAAAAAAAA.......

Anonymous wrote:Do any of your friends have nannies? If so, use their nanny. Have them babysit first, of course, but that's better than someone who is just a "sitter." Seriously, you can figure it out. We always have.

You better ask your friends first, unless you don't value their friendship.

Start getting the kids used to a sitter early on so you can line up a reliable person. Then have your family come in so they can be around while the sitter looks after your kids. Otherwise do as PP suggests and go to a place with childcare.

Also, as your kids get older, they’ll be able to go to sleep away camp. My parents later confessed they’d have a staycation and relax while I spent a week or two during the summer at camp.