New Years

The only significance this holiday has for a child that age is that it's time to change calendars if you have one. You need date nights. Go have one!

Enjoy it! I would love a night out with my husband-- and my son is 6 and still could care less about New Years Eve. (Besides, I wouldn't want a cranky kid all the next day-- he can stay up until midnight on NYE when he comes up with the idea-- but it will be lonely, because we'll likely be asleep way before then!)

Why?

Does he have any idea what a holiday is? Does he understand that it's just a day that starts the next year? It's not a big deal, like leaving him on Christmas Eve?

If he was 6 or 8 then I'd say he could spend the evening doing something with his parents. Otherwise he's going to want to go to bed and sleep.

Updated

Why?

Does he have any idea what a holiday is? Does he understand that it's just a day that starts the next year? It's not a big deal, like leaving him on Christmas Eve?

If he was 6 or 8 then I'd say he could spend the evening doing something with his parents. Otherwise he's going to want to go to bed and sleep.

Updated

Why?

Does he have any idea what a holiday is? Does he understand that it's just a day that starts the next year? It's not a big deal, like leaving him on Christmas Eve?

If he was 6 or 8 then I'd say he could spend the evening doing something with his parents. Otherwise he's going to want to go to bed and sleep.

Updated

What??

Your 3 yr old knows nothing about New Years Eve. He isn't missing anything plus he has a sitter to entertain him.

It is GOOD for you to have date night with hubby to have alone time and to spend time with friends.

By going on date night and having time with your husband, you are making your marriage stronger which ultimately makes your family stronger! Go on date nights more often. We still go every week and today is our 25th anniversary!

Go enjoy! Happy New Year!

He's 3. Date night to him is having his glamorous babysitter over. She will probably let him stay up late AND have dessert - good times!

Enjoy your date night. :)

Stop feeling guilty!!

Mom's need breaks too!! Your son will be in bed LONG before the clock tolls midnight....

GO!! HAVE FUN!!!!

Your kid has no idea what New Years is all about. It's just another day to him. Go out with your hubby and enjoy it!

Have a date with your husband. Your son is way too young to worry about new years.

If parents were to never go out, they would not have happy marriages. Your child needs to have parents that love each other and get to do grown up things.

Plus, your child has no idea that New Years is considered a holiday..
Go with no guilt. You and your husband need time alone together. Make it a regular part of your marriage.

Most moms feel guilty about having fun. Your kiddo doesn't have a clue about or care about new-years eve. Go and have fun. You need to take care of you AND your marriage, because that DOES take care of your child. :)

Will your 3 yo even be up at midnight? Have fun with your friends. A strong marriage is the best gift you can him and as you said...you need a date night.

Please don't feel guilty. New Years Eve means nothing to your son right now. He's three - he doesn't realize that it's a special night to celebrate. I know my three year old wouldn't have a clue if my husband and I went out tomorrow night that we were leaving her on a "holiday." He likes the sitter and is happy when she comes over. You have nothing to feel guilty about. Go out and have fun.

I think you're feeling perfectly normal however you need to go have couple time with your husband. The best gift you can give your 3 yr. old is a thriving marriage. Have fun!

Seriously? Why would you feel guilty? He's three, it's just another night to him. NYE is adult time, go have fun.

You are not a better Mom or a more noble person by feeling this way, just a person who feels guilty for having fun. If you look at it that way it seems a little silly, right?

Enjoy your night, Happy New Year!

ADDED: Just a response to the post above. Actually there really can be something wrong with a Mom that feels guilty when leaving her kids for an adult evening. It's very important to keep your foot in your own adult social life.

I see Moms so wrapped up in kiddos world I wonder what they'll do in a few years. My husband and I are staring down the short time when our girls will be moving on and out and having an interesting life without them is really important. If NYE isn't your thing no biggie but do be sure you're doing more than date nights once in while. Having close friends you both enjoy becomes very important as kids start doing their own thing and that happens way before 18.

Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out how NYE is even a holiday to a three year old. What exactly would you guys be doing with your child if you stayed home?

Your 3 year old doesn't know what NYE is - it's just another night for him. He'll have fun with a sitter - you go and have fun. Enjoy - sounds like lots of fun. I'm jealous!

He will have his own fun tonight.. his style.. Go and have fun.

Yes, the only time we leave our daughter is when my mother or older daughter watches her. She is 8 years old now. Good thing we are older parents and had a lot of good times in our younger years.

Not that we are total duds now, but we just do a lot of things that include her.

When my kids were that age, we stayed home and enjoyed new years just the two of us. Yes, you need time out, but if you're going to be miserable and worried the whole time, don't bother. Put him to bed, break out the champaign and a good movie, and reconnect at home - but make it a real date, not just an every night of falling asleep on the couch.

My husband and I have never left our kids on a holiday, even when they were a baby. I want to be with them, and date night can happen any night.

If you feel guilty about leaving him, or if you just want to be with him, that's OK. Some of us don't leave our kids. And that's OK.

Do what feels right to you. If you are going to go out, do so and have fun, but if you are going to go and worry about your kid? What's the point of going out?

Go out and have fun. Your son does not know what NYE is. Have a great date night with adults. Are you going to feel guilty when he is 18 and you go out? No, I don't think so. So begin now to prepare him for leaving the nest. He won't die to be away from mom and dad for a few hours and you two will have great adult and me time.

Remember you are a woman, wife and mother in that order. Stop trying to put the mommy before everything all the time. You are a person as well other than x's mommy.

the other S.

I know how you feel. I did the couples/singles things before kids. Now that I have a son I want to ring in the New Year as a family. The time will come soon enough that he will want to be with his friends more often than not. My husband and I get to enjoy him for now!

Can a relative babysit? My parents used to keep my son until I moved out if state when he was 7. That's the only time I had outside babysitters.

If you are away from family and have to use an outside babysitter, go for it. Your husband needs you to be a wife.

I think you should get 1-2 more kid-free New Year's Eves. After about age 5-6, they start to want to celebrate this holiday as well. We have celebrated with the same couple of families at one of our houses for the last 6 years. Always fun for everyone.

I would feel that way only because of the danger from drunk drivers.

One year we hired a college aged sitter and spent the night at a hotel at our destination, that didn't bother me at all. Going out for the evening I kept thinking if we both die, my kids!! Just doesn't seem right to risk my life.

I am perhaps crazy, don't know.