Here are my two options. I'm wondering what others would do since I just can't decide. We are planning to go to Disney World in April. We have gone every year since my son was born (sometime 2x a year). We originally intended to skip this year because of the girls, but feel it is important to go. It is my son's absolute favorite thing/place and he has been AMAZING the past 5 months since the twins were born. He's 4.5 and will be starting Kindergarten in the fall. So we are planning to either... Go Monday through Sunday with the girls or Go Monday through Friday (or maybe even Thursday night) without them. THey would stay with my sister at her house and my mom would also stay there to help out. I seriously think I have an anxiety disorder because I feel really anxious about leaving them behind. Yet, I know my son would benefit and enjoy the quality alone time with mommy and daddy (like "the good old days") What would you do?
It might be a special time for your son just having the two of you and all your attention. Im think its pretty normal to have anxiety. As long as you are confident your mom and sister can handle things, I say go for it.
Go to Disney with your oldest and let the babies stay with your family! He will have so much fun and you and DH will love the quality one-on-one with DS, I'm sure. I say that assuming you feel that your mom and sister are adequate caretakers. Enjoy
How old are they? ETA...Nevermind, I see that they are 5 months. Hmmm. That would be tough for me. I am not usually one to leave my kids no matter their age, but Disney would be tough with 2 5 month olds! GL with your decision! :hug:
I think you should go with just your son, as pp said it will be amazing quality time for him, but that's only if you feel you'll be able to enjoy it and not be worrying too much about the girls, otherwise it might put a damper on things. Im so jealous, have tons and tons of fun!!!!!!!!!
I'm with everyone else - leave the babies at home! As hard as it is, you know they are in good hands with your family and the truth is, they probably won't miss you as much as you'll miss them! They'll be well-taken care of, and your mom and sister will get some bonding time. We left my then 9-mo-old with my parents and went to Jamaica for 5 days with our then 8-yr-old-- that was also the right decision. Everyone had a great time in Jamaica and at home!
I agree with Becky, I've never left my kids home before so it would be a very tough decision for me Honestly, I would probably skip the disney trip altogether this year. We had to make the decision to miss my brother's wedding because the twins were only going to be 4-5 months old, and it's a 5 day drive to my bro's house. It was a very hard decision to make but I don't regret it, I couldn't stand the thought of leaving the twins with someone for any length of time! Good luck deciding what's right for you and your family! :hug:
Easy for me to sit here and say I would do it, because I would be in the same thought process. But, it seems it would be easier to leave them now at 5 mos than if they were older. Tough one - I don't envy your choice...in the end I probably couldn't do it but if I did I bet it would be just fine with my other child to focus on. Maybe you should just go for it - the world is not going to end and when you return they won't remember you were gone for that time. However, if you are going to be sick about it consider how fun you will be for your son.
Go with your son and have fun!!! We are leaving our oldest and twins who will be 6 months in May for a vacation. And I will not look back-hahaha. They will be in very good hands and frankly, i need a break.
I agree with this, because I would have been way to anxious NOT to take mine! I could not have left mine for multiple nights at 5 months (mine were on apnea monitors and many meds so it was a different situation). IF anxiety will interfere with your trip if you dont take the babies, bring them and make adjustments. As an alternative---could you 'take' another adult to hang with the babies for part of the day (am/pm) so you can have time with your older DS, but then still have the babies with you for piece of mind and at night? OR even swap out yourself and DH staying with babies in the hotel. DS might like one on one time with each of you and you could 'rest' up in the hotel if babies were sleeping. If you take them, would get a 'suite' style so the babies could sleep in one room and you dont wake them when you come in/out. If you go 1-2x a year, just remember that anything you miss this time you can see next time! Have fun no matter what you do!
Last summer we took our twins to Disney when they were 5 months because we wanted to do something fun with our older daughter (then 9 yrs old). I was bf and am a terrible "pumper" so I couldn't leave them at home. We had a great time, BUT it was a lot of work! There were lots of things we didn't get to do and we wish we had stayed in a condo or suite with a separate bedroom. Our studio room did not have enough space and we made too much noise for the babies to sleep well! Ugh...sleepless nights! I rented 2 "travel" swings and that was SO helpful for pool time! It was a great vacation for our family after spending the winter in the hospital on bedrest!! Do what makes YOU comfortable...good luck with your decision!
The longest I have been apart from my kids is when Evan was born and I spent 2 nights in the hospital. They visited me there though. I know spending time with your son is important and it would be fine leaving the twins with caregivers. IS there any way of your mom/sister coming with? So you take the twins with? Just a thought.
I just went through this same decision. My husband and I are taking vacation with our 2.5yr old son and leaving our 8mth twins at home. I think it is going to be so good for him to spend some alone time with us - and the girls won't know the difference!
I would leave the girls and go! DH and I are going to Florida to visit family after he gets home in November and we are going to take the girls to Disney one day and go an additional two on our own and let grandma and grandpa watch the girls. And we don't have an older child! I think you would feel great about your decision if you got to spend some quality time with just your son. I also understand your hesitation because my girls are 5 months and haven't had a baby sitter for more than 3 hours (and that was just one time). Good luck and either way, have fun at Disney!
We went to Disney World when L&L were 5 months old, but we ended up taking my mom & dad with us and they stayed with L&L the days that we were actually at the park. So, they were with us but didn't actually go to Disney World. It worked out great, they had a blast playing in the pool with Grandma & Grandpa and we got to spend some time with the older kids without looking after the little ones.
Looking back now, I totally could have left them at 5 months. At the time, I'm sure I would have been stressed about leaving them. We did some overnights when they were a few months old and it gets easier the more we left them. Now, I have no problem leaving them. Is that bad We took a 5-night cruise in the fall by ourselves and it was great. We don't have older kids, but I think it would be so nice to spend one on one time with just your son. It's only for few nights. I say go for it. Even if you miss them like crazy, it will be so nice to have a break from all the work and have some time with just your son and husband. Good luck with your decision.
