Leaving Kids for a Week or More. Can I Do It????

I did leave my children with my mother for a week. My son wasn't born yet at the time and I was scared. I haven't had the experience you have had but it was my first child and my first time having her gone for a week. What I did was set up 2 times a day that I would call them so I could check in with her. She had a great time, I had a great time after the first couple of days (which were rough and wracked with guilt). I should also mention that I am bi-polar and a control freak. I think the only way I was able to do it was because I had specific times that I called and checked in.

Hi L., I know exactly what you are going through. When my son was 3-1/2, my husband and I had to travel to China for the adoption of our daughter. We had never been away from him and we were gone two weeks.

He was crazy about Hot Wheels cars so we gift wrapped one for each day we were gone and he got to open one per day. That gave him a fun prize every evening and a visual for how many days until we got home. I took his picture with me and talked with him on the phone most evenings. It was definitely harder on me than him! He had a wonderful time with grandma and he only had a few moments missing us. I did really well until the last few days and I was just about in tears all the time missing my baby boy!

To prepare yourself, I think it helps to have a few long weekends away from the children. This gets you used to being away, without being so FAR away! :-) Have fun on your trip.

My husband and I left our children last year (at the time our son was 4 and our daughter was not quite a year old). We had an amazing oppurtunity to go to London and Paris. We were gone for a week total. It was very hard leaving them I won't lie about that, but as soon as we got there I tried to enjoy it as much as possible. I knew we wouldn't make it back to Europe for a very long time if ever. I found an internet cafe and emailed them daily (calling was way to expensive and we only got to talk for a few minutes each day). My parent's watched them which was wonderful! I felt comfortable leaving my children in their care because they watch them on a daily basis. don't think about the whatifs because you will run yourself ragged! Just don't forget to get a letter notorized that you and your husband type up for guardianship in case something does happen. We did this before we left and felt much better about knowing they would be taken care of if something did happen. I hope this helps! Try and enjoy your trip, and remember your kids will be fine!

Hi L.,

I am the same way, and even though my husband asked for us to do it, I never did leave them....I am waiting, I have a 3 and 8 years old now and won't leave them for leisure, but I don't have any family members close, so in other words I cant! It would be different if my mom could be here with hem or has taken care of them before.
Why don't you try leaving your kids with mom for some days before the trip to see how it works? You will feel much better being able to see it and also being there in case they need you.
Best of luck!
Mariana Abadie
www.MyKidsFirst.com