You probably love your kids and their goofy little acts, however sometimes, you find yourself yearning for a break –from life and the chaos of parenthood. Well, that’s completely normal and you might even actually need a peaceful getaway couple vacation to protect your sanity.
As parents, we often neglect ourselves and forget that we also need to spend quiet quality time with our partners. However, the stress and anxiety of leaving your munchkins behind might hold you back. But what if we tell you there is a way to do both? Attend to your children’s needs and plan a romantic trip with your partner at the same time.
It might sound too good to be true, but if you know how to properly manage it, you can plan an amazing, peaceful, and romantic trip with your partner without the sound of wailing kids in the background.
How? Let us tell you! Here is how you can take a stress-free, guilt-free, and children-free vacation:
Arrange Someone to Take Care of Your Kids
If you are not taking your kids on the trip, you will of course need someone to take care of your kids while you are away. Now this can be a little challenging if you don’t have any relatives living nearby. Maybe your parents live out of town and not within driving distance.
Arranging someone to take care of your kids can be a little hard in such a case, but not impossible.
1. Fly Someone In
If you have someone trustworthy willing to help, ask them to fly in. There is no rule stating that you cannot combine a summer visit with grandparents and a parents-only trip. This is also a perfect opportunity for grandparents or a relative to enjoy some time with the kids.
Offer to pay for their plane ticket even if they try to turn you down. They are technically doing you a favor, so be a little thankful and try to keep your couple vacation. Make sure that they have some experience with kids and most importantly, your children should feel comfortable living with them. Invite them over a little before your scheduled trip and see if the children are getting along with them.
2. Bring Your Kids to Them
If for whatever reason, grandparents or aunts are not able to fly to your location, you can always take your kids to them. This is a great option if your kids also have a school break going on. Make sure to plan the trip as a vacation for your kids too, so that they won’t whine about being left behind.
Plan a fun road trip with your kids with exciting stops. Enjoy some quality time together with the little ones before dropping them off. We know that it can be hard to plan a road trip with kids, but it will be worth it if there is a children-free vacation on the other side of that road trip!
3. Hire a Baby-Sitter
Since finding a trustworthy babysitter is hard, consider this as your last resort. Call your friends and offer to take care of their kids next time they want to take a parents-only trip. But if you have a babysitter who you trust with your kids, there is no harm in hiring someone. Pay them enough to manage your kids for a weekend, or maybe even a week.
A tip: when you are leaving your kids with a stranger, it is wise to have some cameras in your house and keep an eye on things even when you are away. Stay in contact with your kids and your babysitter. Call in to make sure that your kids are eating well and sleeping on time.
Prepare Your Kids & Be Honest With Them
Before venturing off on your child-free vacation, make sure that your kids are prepared for it. Give them substantial notice that you will be hitting the road to avoid stressful goodbyes. Be honest with them and give them proper information tailored to their understanding.
When you are telling the kids about your couple vacation, make sure that they will be able to handle the separation. Don’t project your own guilt or nervousness onto them, confidently tell them that you are certain they will have a BLAST in your absence. And most importantly, allow your kids to express their feelings about the whole thing and answer any questions that they might have.
Once you are confident they are okay with the arrangements, your initial guilt about leaving your kids behind will vanish, and then only will you be able to have a stress-free trip.
Keep Your Trip Short and Simple
You don’t have to squeeze in an action-packed trip just because you have the time. When you have kids waiting for you back home, try to keep things short and simple. Maybe go on a beach vacation, or a hotel overlooking some scenic views. Spend quality time with your partner, explore new restaurants, and do things that are already on your bucket list.
The goal is to have a quiet little break, you don’t want to tire yourself so much that you will need a week’s worth of downtime after coming back. While it may not sound great, you will have to take on your parental duties immediately after returning home.
According to new studies on autonomy-supportive parenting, your kids need to enjoy little bursts of independence. The Society for Research in Child Development states that kids who engage in alone time and see their parents doing the same are more psychologically adept in handling stressful situations as adults.
So make sure that you allow yourself to detach while maintaining some form of healthy communication during the trip. Don’t spend the first half of your trip drowning in guilt, swiping through pictures of your kids, and wondering if they feel abandoned. Instead, focus on your partner and try to take a break from your chaotic life, and plan a couple vacation with Creativewannabe.