My DH, myself & our 4 kids (5, 3, 18 mth twins) are heading to Oregon from Illinois in one month. We are driving. Yes, we weren't thinking when we decided to do this. I have tried to talk my DH out of this numerous times but he won't budge. (We are going to see his family). We are renting a minivan as we know ours won't make it. Gas prices are so high too!

So...I had this idea last night and I guess it is a compromise for both of us. We still go but we leave the twins with my parents (they babysit them all the time and we all spend a day together every week...so the twins & my parents are comfortable with each other). We will be gone for 12 days. My parents have agreed to it, but we are having guilt issues with parting from them for so long. We know that it is the best case senario for the situation: we can rent a smaller car, spend less on gas, less on food, 3 & 5 yr old are more entertainable on the road and don't need as much of a schedule, etc.

Has anyone else done this before and regretted it? I have mixed feelings about it, but think this may be the only way this trip is going to be managable. Thanks for your imput!

Becki

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"From the Fullness of His Love We Have All Received One Blessing After Another"

I have a 3 and 5 year old and we travel to Maine from NJ a few times a year and that is ENOUGH for ME! If you can leave to twins, LEAVE them and don't feel guilty! They will have a great time and they won't remember that you didn't let them go.

It would be nice for your 2 older kids to spend some time with you and DH by themselves too, how often do they get to do that for 12 days straight? So try not to think of it as leaving the twins, but think of it as taking time for the 3 & 5 year old, that way it's not something to feel guilty about.

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

I would leave the twin, miss them terribly but leave them anyway. At 18 months they are going to have a better time at Grandma and Grandpa's house then they are going to have in a car for hours.

Hope you have a good trip!
Darlene

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Sell crazy some place else, we are all stocked up here.

Another idea as far as the food goes. When we traveled when I was a kid, my parents always had a cooler in the back with sandwich stuff. (bread, bologna, peanut butter, cheese, chips, drinks, snacks) We would stop at rest areas and have a picnic instead of eating out all the time. It saved a lot of money....

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I was told once by a pediatrician that your kids need a break from you just as you need a break from them.. Might be good for you two.

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Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like. - Will Rogers

Just out of curiosity...I checked flights from airtran.com and southwest.com and it looks like if you fly out of chicago midway to portland oregon, you will be spending about $550 a head to fly round trip so $2200 all together. Add in your meal expenses, hotels, gas, car rental, and snacks/fun things to do on the way and you may be "break even". If you leave the twins with your parents and rent a compact car when you get to oregon, you may have saved lots of money!
Personally, if I had the option and my parents were willing to do it, I would definately take the option of leaving the kids with them. Yea, there will be some seperation anxiety and they will reject you at first when you get back but this is a great way to bond with your other kids who may have felt like this since the twins were born! Babies are adaptable and very forgiving so leaving them with someone as loving as grandparents is a great option!
My mom has NO problem taking my son for four days just to spend time with him. He's a toddler and loves his "ya-ya" and gets very passionate if he doesn't get his quality time with her! The world stops for her grandson!

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Thank you all for your feedback. We have decided to leave the twins with my parents. We will miss them terribly, but I know that it is the best for all. My parents said that they are actually looking forward to it. Thanks again! Will let you know how the trip goes.

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"From the Fullness of His Love We Have All Received One Blessing After Another"

Your parents are so lucky for the opportunity to spend some good quality time with their grandkids.
My daughter won't let her 4 year old stay overnight one night with us!

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Square dancing is friendship set to music!

JM19 - I am so sorry to hear this. I think all kids need to know their grandparents on a personal level - I didn't know mine well growing up and it was hard to enjoy our time with them. Will be praying for your situation.

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"From the Fullness of His Love We Have All Received One Blessing After Another"

OP are you getting all packed up for your trip yet??

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Vicki


TLJ Women united in Spirit!

We always take sandwich fixings with us when we travel on long road trips. When the boys were younger they spent most of the time running and playing while we ate. It helped burn off a lot of energy.

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Thanks for asking! Yes, I am packing...I am so frazzled right now, trying to get the house ready for us being gone for 2 weeks and all that type of stuff! Can't do much packing until Thursday when I have all laundry caught up. Thursday will not be a fun day - laundry, cleaning house, 4 kids baths, packing, etc. Oh well...I am a list person so I am ready and waiting for Thursday!

Keep us in your prayers - we would appreciate it!

Becki

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"From the Fullness of His Love We Have All Received One Blessing After Another"

I know this is late and you have made up your mind, I guess that I am playing devil's advocate here, but didn't you say you were going to see DH family and if you are won't they want to see the twins. I know that the trip will be easier for you, but will feelings be hurt by not bringing the twins. Just a thought and I don't want to make you feel guilty.

Finally home from our trip. Everything worked out well and we are so glad that we left the twins with Grammy & Grandad. The In-laws enjoyed their time with the 4 of us, but did miss the twins. However, we were able to travel in one vehicle everywhere we went (lots of day trips) and also didn't have to be tied to the house for naps and such. I think Grammy & Grandad enjoyed their time too. It all worked out for the best!

Thanks for praying & Thinking of us.

Becki

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"From the Fullness of His Love We Have All Received One Blessing After Another"

Glad everything went well and everyone had a great time.

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Brenda

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