Justin1972UK said:

18 months. He had a few days there last year when he was a few months old and a week with my folks just after his first birthday - all in preparation for his summers in Italy. With the grandparents over there it was something we assured them we would try and do, for their sake, his and ours.

I escaped from my ankle-biters for a whole month! I discovered my interests again, suddenly wasn't always anxious, and really RELAXED. I didn't miss the kids( except for on the 3 rainy days) and THEN I HAD TO COME BACK HOME

I think this is normal

shanti0608 said:

I was proud, "Daddy's Beer" unfortunately it has become synonymous with any drink I have - Morning coffee "daddy's beer", drink with lunch "daddy's beer". It doesn't look good I tell you

ZombieKitten said:

I am hping it will get a bit easier as the days go by. I don't want to get too used to it though!

PREDOMINANT said:

PREDOMINANT said:

To most ppl it would not look good...

He is so cute when HE says it though..you just have to laugh...which then reinforces it I suppose.

shanti0608 said:

I taught him "Vino" last weekend, just to add a bit of variety.

PREDOMINANT said:

onenitealone said:

AMEN!!! CO-SIGN CO-SIGN CO-SIGN!!!

Enjoy your respite...!!
[Edited 7/27/07 6:12am]

PREDOMINANT said:

What your feeling is normal. I have a daughter as well and know the feeling myself.

Its good for parents(rather single or married) to "get away"(sort to speak) and spend some time alone without the little ones. My daughter goes to her fathers(since we are divorced) every other weekend, but if I need a break like going to a movie by myself, my mother is glad to take my daughter for that purpose. The guilt is there no matter what you do, I have it myself. But if they are old enough to understand(about the tween years) they need to know that its okay for mommy and daddy or mommy/daddy(if single) to spend time without them around.

Not to mention as well, when(if you do) leave them at a daycare or in the hands of a caregiver they will know you will come back for them, and not cry their heart out while your gone(AKA seperation anxiety).

So in short yes its okay to let go at times mommy/daddy, they will be okay(especialy in the hands of their grandparents).


[Edited 7/27/07 6:04am]

reneGade20 said:

Cheers mate, will do.

toots said:

I am confident leaving him, he has been exposed a lot to other people and the worst his Granparents can do is spoil him!

In fact one of the only times he cried when being left was when MDiver left without giving him a ride on his Bike!!

PREDOMINANT said:

Awww i know that broke my heart and he was gonna come racing the day after but we got rained off

mdiver said:

Only ever done it with the missus or myself, and YOU?

PREDOMINANT said:

Val and I were very lucky to be welcomed by all 3 of you and i took his upset as a compliment and a sign that we had been accepted.

mdiver said:

Don't go all he hasn't accepted shit. He is lulling you into a false sense of security and he will pounce when he suits him most, he's playing with you

PREDOMINANT said:

Well i did break his pan....i hope you didn't grass me up and say i did it on purpose

Who's criticizing you? They're jealous they can't get rid of their own kids!!

It's an amazing experience for your child and you get some quality time with your wife. Nothing wrong with that.

mdiver said:

don't mention the pan. Maybe that’s why he was crying? You were leaving before he had time to wreak his revenge for the pan "incident"

CarrieLee said:

Some of my wife's work colleagues. So she is feeling pretty guilty. Needless to say it helped getting some seriously good martinis down our throats last night.

Thanks for the support.

PREDOMINANT said:

There will be a random act of pain infliction out of nowehere one day and i will just "know" that he is even

PREDOMINANT said:

I don't get it. This clearly benefits everyone. What's wrong with people? Gotta be jealous...gotta be.

mdiver said:

He will snap a handle bar on your bike and laugh

PREDOMINANT said:

Quality

CarrieLee said:

I guess so. Still can't help feeling like we have deserted him though. Palm him off so we can go out on the razz.

But i don't see why when you become parents you have to give up your freedom either.

good on you guys!! u deserve some time to yourselves, you'll be even better parents for it and i can think of worse things to do to a child than send it to italy with doting grandparents for 3 weeks.you'll appreciate him all the more when you get him back not that you don't already, i commend you.

PREDOMINANT said:

I have 2 sons ages 7 and 4. When my husband and I had our 5 yr. anniversary my oldest was 11 months. We had the chance to go to Europe for a week and I was very hesitant to go. It IS hard to leave your kids!! I thought it would be so easy, but it's not. My parents came and picked him up and he spent the week with them. My parents loved it because they got to have him all to themselves and spoil him rotten! I fretted the entire time we were gone, but it was good for my husband and I to get away just the two of us and have some alone time. We don't live near family, so the chance to be alone doesn't come very often.

I think you missing him is completely NORMAL!! I understand. I don't think it's bad at all what you are doing. Your son most likely will have an incredible time and the grandparents will love it as well. I was extremely close to my grandparents and they were more like second parents to me. I have so many fond memories of my childhood because of them. I think what you are doing is very UNselfish. You are giving your son a great opportunity. I think he will thank you when he's old enough to realize the wonderful gift you are giving him. You and your wife deserve time alone together. When I was pregnant a good friend of mine said that the greatest gift my husband and I could give our son was to show him what a loving relationship between a husband and wife looks like. It is so important to maintain the bond between you and your wife. Before you had your son you had a deep love for her. Cherish it, nurture it, take care of it. I hope you enjoy your 3 weeks and rediscover the great connection that led you and your wife to get married in the first place.

Have a great time!!

cammille said:

Cheers

hokie1 said:

WOW, thanks very much. It is pretty much the way I feel. I just don't understand when others don't agree. We (my wife and I) do "miss" each other loads. On our first date in ages (last night) we both saw sides of each other that we had forgotten.