wow, people are judgemental... What suits one family does not suit another.. yadda yadda yadda... <BR>I have 4 teenage children (at school), 1 husband, 1 dog and 1 cat. I am leaving them (again) to travel to England then Italy and France for 7 weeks. I am travelling with 2 friends. <BR>My family are very happy for me to travel as it makes me happy. A happy mummy is a happy daddy and children. <BR>Each to there own, we have discussed travelling overseas as a family but the kids do not want to see what most adults like. We are going away as a family in 2 days to Lennox Heads (NSW) for 2 glorious weeks by the beach. This kind of holiday is what my children like, sun, surf and sand, not walking around monuments, and soaking in the views. <BR>When we went to Hawaii for 7 nights, our children stayed with there Grandparents and had a lovely time. I say go for it if it makes EVERYONE in your family happy.

I didn't know breastfeeding was popular today is this a new "trendy" thing to do because no one did it in the 80's or 90's. I'm 28 (born in the early 70's to a working mom who stayed home for 3 months) and was given only a bottle of formula. My mother never breast-fed me and i didn't breast feed my two children either. we all seemed to turn out fine. I think in todays society where both parents are working 50 hours a week its not always and option and that is fine. "Shocked" ,you shouldn't be so shocked Enfamil has been on the market for at least 40 years so apparently a bottle is not a new thing!

to [email protected] <BR>Breastfeeding became very poular in the middle 80's and as far as I know is still very popular with the soccor mom types. <BR>I am an attorney and stayed home with my child for her first year. She was breast fed the whole time. I choose to do this because she was premature and I learned through magazines that breast fed babies are healthier. <BR> <BR>Of course it is not necessary to breast feed. But it was beneficial to my child and at the time it also seemed to be highly encouraged at the parenting workshops I attended.

Hi anonymous: <BR>My husband and I got bitten with the travel bug when our children were 5 and 8 yrs of age. We have travelled at least once per year since then (20 years ago) without the kids. Mostly for 2 -3 weeks. The girls either stayed with family or went to horse camp (please Mum can't you stay away on your holidays for longer than 3 weeks I want to stay at camp!) til they were old enough to work then their Grandmother stayed with them till they were old enough and responsible enough to stay on their own. We found it always! to be the best thing for our marriage. We came back refreshed, ready to face the raising of two young ladies with renewed vigour and interest and most importantly fell inlove with each other all over again (20 times) wonderful. I can't imagine NOT having done taken the time together to travel. We have taken our children on some of our journeys and they are now healthy, well adjusted women who travel when they can as well. We still took one trip without them however each year as I said. (and no we aren't rich we just saved each year for our trip).We are still on the move and don't regret a moment. <BR>Hope you can convince your husband. <BR>Good luck

We did so infrequently ESPECIALLY once they were teenagers, but that is a short-lived portion of your life! We found the best arrangement was to trade-off with friends' families: We'd take "Michael" so his folks could have a week and they'd reciprocate and take care of our son. Same with our daughter (she had more options as she had so many friends who were involved in the same activities.) It all works out in the end and is truly worth it. When they were 17 and 21 we left them for a week on their own. Yes, there was an "incident" the night before we got back -- word gets out, no matter how "good" or careful your kids are -- everyone learned a lesson. It's part of growing up.

<BR>I am a bit concerned about a father who would give up a romantic holiday with his wife of many years to a holiday with kids who don't really want to be with him.

My fiancee and I will be leaving her (actually, our, after the wedding) 3 children when we go on our honeymoon ;)

Anon: <BR> <BR>May I say I'm rather amazed at how a simple question has degenerated into a free for all... <BR> <BR>I am 32, still single. When my sister and I were growing up, my parents always insisted we go on vacations with them and we did have fun. It wasn't until I was in college that they started going on trips without us. <BR> <BR>You want to know something? We wish they'd started doing it MUCH sooner! It made Mom so happy to be with Dad alone so they could be spontaneous and do what they wanted. <BR> <BR>I think there's not a thing wrong for a couple to take a yearly vacation without the kids. They come back relaxed, more in love (I hope) and better parents to their kids. I say GO FOR IT!

if you have kids in seventh grade or older and leave them for a vacation, please leave them with a RESPONSIBLE adult. not a college age kid, but an aunt, etc. <BR>i work in a high school and your collective hair would turn white if you heard the stories i hear about what kids do when their parents are away. <BR>literally, sex, drugs and rock and roll. <BR>and i don't mean "just" pot, these kids are doing coke, Xstasy, snorting each others prozac for god's sake! <BR> <BR>this is from kids with stable homes, a wealthy town, school is one of the best in the area. <BR>

Get over it! Your children will get over it! YOu need a chance to get away together. You're obviously responsible parents and love your children, you deserve some time together. Remember, they will grow up and move away. Keep that relationship going between your husband and yourself. If you take care of yourselves and your relationship, everything will follow with your children. Don't let that "guilt" get to you.

A lot of us seem to be overlooking the Dad's POV here. Maybe the trick is to not jump right in with a big-time Europe trip, but to first spirit him away for an adults-only w/e with Mom. Maybe that would whet his interest/and allay his concerns. <BR> <BR>From the time my two children were born - 31 and 29 years ago - I a.) loved them to pieces and b.) desperately craved time away from them...to be people. to be wedded. to be with my spouse. (A very dear friend, my age, with kids about the same age...NEVER EVER took a vacation away from the kids. and i NEVER EVER understood her.) <BR> <BR>But - our adults-only trips were always restorative and wonderful. We were fortunate in that my brother had two kids about the same age. We lived in the city; he lived on ranchland in the shadows of the Rockies. Starting before the oldest child was 10, we began trading vacation times....So the third or fourth time we did this "trade" was a perfect time for our first trip to Europe. And it was magnificent! <BR> <BR>I hope that 'anonymous' gains some insight from all of these experiences...and that she gets some time with her spouse away from the kids. If she thinks she needs it -- it's important!!!

Shocked-I think it is very selfish for someone to think the whole world revolves around YOUR child.To bring a (crying) baby to a wedding and ruin a ceremony for a couple who have prob. spent lots of money for the most important moments of their lives-is selfish. And at movie theatres and nice restaurants and....There are just times the babies should not be there. <BR>

topping...again, for hosted forum... <BR> <BR>for better or worse?

Ignore all the negative responses and have a great time! I was feeling guilty about my upcoming trip to Paris with my husband for a week without my 3 kids (youngest is 4) until my mother said...you need time alone together, because without you as a couple, you have nothing to offer the kids. Its good for children to see that their parents love each other. I really don't think a week away alone will ruin your kids lives!

I've never had the luxury of having someone to leave my kids with so I never really thought about it. We take them with us. It's not the same kind of vacation as it would be without kids but it still works just fine. Honestly, if i had someone I feel comfortable leaving them with that won't mind having them, I think I would certainly give it a try. For now it's quad rooms and mediocre restaurants but still a lot of site seeing. <BR>

Hey, last poster, Here at Home, and also anonymous, if you're still around, I'm in the same boat(but not yet ready to slip off the edge of the world!). <BR> <BR>We would go together alone, too, but don't have anyone to leave our two with either. I took my daughter on a trip last year, and next year (God willing) we will all go together. I'd like to take a quick week solo trip in the fall, but that's a big iffy. A trip with my husband just isn't working right now because we simply have no reliable person to stay with the kids. And I won't cast around for just anybody to stay with my kids. <BR>It would be nice to get away together but isn't it a little preposterous to claim a marraige can't survive without a romantic trip abroad, as some of the previous posters have eluded?