Well I have a situation in which my parents asked me and my sister to go to Italy. The thing is it would be next Sept and She and myself would have to leave our husbands and kids behind because they said the trip is extremely expensive to take all 11 of us.
I really hate leaving my Husband and kids for 2 weeks but my parents are getting up there and I am afraid I will regret it if something happens to them.
I was thinking of suggesting a less expensive trip where everyone can go together but I don't want to piss them off. Some people say they would run but part of me thinks it's just not right.

What would you do?

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Go to Italy. You may never get the chance. And something could happen to your parents when you are at the grocery store, the dentist's office, or in a meeting.

Go now! Run to the passport office and start packing.

This is your chance for a wonderful opportunity. Your family will be fine and believe me when you get back everyone will be happy you went and have returned.

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I would take the oppurtunity and go. Your husband can take care of the kids and although they will miss you, it is a short time in the scheme of things.

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I would also go with my parents. I guess since my dad has now passed on it makes me look at things differently.

steph

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I wholeheartedly agree with annadrose! Go, have fun, and don't feel guilty!!

GO GO GO!!!!

Your husband and kids will manage just fine, plus it will give the kids a chance to have some time with just dad around which can be an opportunity to make some great memories.

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When I read your question I thought NO way until I opened it and saw your husband will be home. I "think" I would go. I would like to say yes but I truly do not think I could stay away form the kids that long(hubby not really a problem-lol). What a choice you have to make.....

I went to Germany pregnant and left my husband and one year old at home. My husband was perfectly capable of taking care of our child and I actually think it was a good lesson on how much I do on a day to day basis. Italy is very expensive so I can understand why they can't take everyone. I think you should go. Italy is beautiful and it is probably a once in a life time chance... take it!!!

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I would totally go!
That said it depends on how you get along with parents and sis ....

I'd go. Hey, we have our kids for at least 18 years, so 2 weeks is just .2% of that time - that's not much in the grand scheme of things. Plus, it's a great opportunity for kids and dad to bond in a new and special way.

cj/

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I'd go. dh can handle the kids, give him the pizza # and a layout of the grocery store he'll be fine with them.

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Go! It may be the only time you ever get to go. And, as you said, your parents are getting up there in age, so this will be a very memorable trip for all of you. Your kids and DH WILL survive....I promise!

I would go, your dh and kids will be fine and you may not get a chance to be with your sister and parents like that again.

I'd say GO! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to Italy AND be with your parents. I think it's something you'll never forget and you would regret if you didn't go. Take lots of pictures and have a great time. Your husband will do fine with the kids.

Look at it this way -- think about when your kids get to be in their teens and if they had the opportunity to go to Italy -- do you think they would hesitate and say 'oh, but I can't leave mom.' Nope -- they'd hop on that plane in a heartbeat. Hubby and kids will be fine without you for two weeks.

HAVE FUN!!!

No question...GO! I have left my kids with my husband for 2 weeks while vacationing with my parents. My aunt helped him out (picking up from school and watching them until he got home from work...stuff like that). I don't regret it and it gave him a great opportunity to bond more with the kids since I am the primary care giver

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Only you can decide, but if you go --- Have a good time!

It will give you some beautiful memories.

How old are your kids? Are they in school/daycare? Will DH have to take those two weeks off from work to care for the kids?

I would find a way to make it work and go. I know my DH would tell me to go!

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I think if you are comfortable with it, then you should go. I personally would not go without my kids, but my situation is that my husband works nights and can be forced to go to work at anytime.

I would go have alot of fun, so goooo / Peace. catherine

Maybe I missed something but it would depend on how old the kids are. I don't think I could ever do it but that's just me.

I should let her answer for herself , but if memory serves me the girls are pre-teen to HS senior-ish age.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Heck yes go. Just because we're women does not mean we have to always be wives and mothers first. Sometimes we get to just be ourselves. I've gone on many vacations with my Mother where we left my Father & my husband behind. And if I had children, I'd leave them behind too and continue to go on vacations with her. Its important to take the rare opertunities we get to put ourselves first for a little while. Provided your husband can feed himself and the kids, even if its not to "your standards" then go. They won't stave, the house won't burn down, and they'll all learn how much they miss you. Its a good chance for them to learn a bit of independence and if you have daughters - for them to learn that you don't stop being somebody's daughter just because you had kids (although that lesson may take a few years to sink in).

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I would tell my husband and kids about the offer and see what their reaction is.If they were happy for me and told me to go I would go,but if thay were silent and showed the least bit of envy or unhappiness about it I wouldn't go.
I wouldn't want my family to feel jealous.If they cheered me on to go, that would be great but if they showed disappointment I wouldn't.
But on the other hand if I really wanted to go really bad ,I would say "screw them,they'll get over it,and go,lol.

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I had the opportunity and took it. I never regretted it and guess what my son survived without me!!! And he has never said anything about Mom being gone without him.

enjoy your trip.

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I will go .

NO way,we had plans to go on a family trip to disney world with the kids for ,but a freind found me a 7 day cruise for 500.00 for 2 people plus we had ocean view.I paid her the money that night without evening telling my kids<me and my dh had a wonderful time.I just had a meeting and told my kids we will go for spring break, and that is want we did,People though I was a self parent to put my dh ahead of our kids,but I diid not care GO and spend some time with your parents your family will be ok.

I. too, when reading the question thought NO WAY, but when I saw that it was a trip for you and your sister to go with your parents (and your husband would be home with the children then I changed my mind).
I was in Italy last summer and want to return EVERYDAY!!! I loved it more than any place I have ever been before. Go have a wonderful tiem with your 1st family then save up and take "your" family.

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GO GO GO directly to Italy! Both my parents are deceased and looking back, every moment and memory becomes precious.
While my parents got older, my brother and sister a couple times a year would go out to visit (without the "strangers", lol....meaning just us) and have a family sleepover. It was the BEST! What a perfect time to reconnect without all the distractions of children and husbands and wives (no matter how wonderful they are and how much you love them). Being alone with our parents is an incredible memory and no matter how hard it was to arrange, it was worth it.

To ask them to take a less expensive vacation in order to include everyone would defeat the entire purpose of the trip. It would then become YOUR family vacation in which your parents just happen to be there.
This is THEIR vacation with their kids. They want to spend all their time with YOU, and trust me, I totally understand, and so will you when your kids are grown.

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I say GO Go go.
It would be good for everyone. You get to reconnect with your parents and sister. Kids get to connect with dad without mom around to but in. It's also good for hubby and kids to learn that life doesn't stop because mom isn't there.
If you don't go, can I go in your place? lol
Judy

I agree with everybody else -- go! Everybody knows that it is the things in life we don't do that we regret -- not the things we do do.

The opportunity to reconnect with your parents and sister is priceless.

And the time your DH and kids will have together will definitely bring them all closer.

yep. load up and go. the hubby is not helpless and he can care for the kiddos and see what it is like to run the house while you are gone. I bet they will be thrilled to see you when you get back too!

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Personally I would talk to my husband and get his input since he will be left with the children, and line up some help if he needed it. But I would go!!!
I was in Germany when I was 21 and had the chance to go to Paris for New Years eve. My son was 3 and I was looking for a babysitter because this was a tour for adults only. And there were several others who wanted to go and were willing to pay big bucks for someone to watch thier kids. I couldn't pass up the money so I stayed home and watched 6 kids. I figured my dh was in the Army and I would be in Germany again and have another chance. Well we came back to the states in Feb and Dh got out of the Army and I divorced him so I never went back. I regret not going to this day.. 24 years later.
GO!!! or you will regret it later.

GO!
Dh and kids will survive and learn to appreciate you like never before!

I agree---go! Every woman needs a break from the kids and DH just to remember who she is without those titles. A chance to 'rediscover yourself' sort of. Ya know? I don't think I could spend 2 weeks with my parents and sister, lol, but if you guys get along great, then you'll have a wonderful time!

Line up some fun things for your kids with DH (depending on their age) so the time goes quickly for the ones back home too, get some meals frozen or groceries & necessities bought, restaurant gift cards purchased, etc. (or, do nothing at all and hopefully your DH will appreciate you much more when you return after seeing how much you do in your home). Lucky you!

I totally disagree. I think you should stay home and tell your parents that there's a teacher in the New Orleans area who would be more than happy to go with them!!!! LOL! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Life is short--embrace the moments and create memories.

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